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Kerala Blasters Face East Bengal in Kalinga Super Cup Opener

Kerala Blasters FC will begin their 2025 Kalinga Super Cup journey with a Round of 16 match against defending champions East Bengal FC at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium on Sunday, April 20.

The fixture represents a fresh start for both teams after they narrowly missed qualification for the ISL playoffs. For Kerala Blasters, the match marks the competitive debut of new head coach David Català, who has been preparing the squad in Kochi in recent weeks.

"I know that they are the defending champions from last season. That's it for sure. Both teams will go for a win in the match. And it's going to be a passionate game," said Català ahead of his first match in charge.

East Bengal, managed by Oscar Bruzon, enter the contest with notable absences. The defending champions will be without Hijazi Maher due to injury, while Cleiton Silva has left the club. Despite these setbacks, East Bengal remain determined to retain their title.

Kerala Blasters' tactical approach will likely center around their attacking trio of Adrián Luna, Noah Sadaoui, and Jesús Jiménez, whose coordination in the final third could prove crucial. Midfielder Vibin Mohanan will be tasked with controlling possession and dictating the tempo.

The teams split their ISL season meetings, with Kerala Blasters winning 2-1 in Kochi through goals from Sadaoui and Kwame Peprah, while East Bengal secured a 2-1 victory in the return fixture in Kolkata.

This knockout format leaves no margin for error, with both teams understanding the importance of making an immediate impact. The match kicks off at 8:00 PM IST and will be broadcast live on JioHotstar.

Source: Kerala Blasters Official