In a Southern Derby, the two teams placed at the bottom of the league table face it off on Friday. Kerala Blasters FC will host Chennaiyin FC with both the teams having nothing to lose. However both the teams have one thing in common. They have both rattled the league leaders Bengaluru FC. While Kerala Blasters have drawn a match against them, Chennaiyin FC, against all odds, has won their match less than a week ago. Nevertheless, the match will be watched with interest.

Kerala Blasters FC

Kerala Blasters FC with 11 points in 15 games is placed one place above Chennaiyin FC. They have won only one of their matches so far and their insipid display has led them to lose the support of their fans the Manjappada. However, they managed to hold Bengaluru FC to an exciting draw in their last match. A win in this match will be a big achievement to the new man at the helm of affairs of the Kerala Blasters Nilo Vengada. Written off long before from a place in the playoffs they will rely on Slavisa Stojanovic to score a goal for them.

Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC has fallen from the grace of a reigning champion to the bottom of the table in four and a half months this season. They are placed at the bottom of the table with 8 points having secured two wins and two draws from their 15 matches. John Gregory, who led them to win the ISL, last year, will be wondering what kind of team he will take to the AFC Cup. He can, however, take heart from their display against the league leaders Bengaluru FC. They scored two goals against them and managed to win 2-1 in the end. Chennaiyin will certainly take heart that Jeje Lalpekhlua got into goalscoring form against Bengaluru.

Head to head

The two teams have come face to face 11 times in the ISL. Chennaiyin has won 4 of those games Kerala has won two and the rest of the games have been drawn. Interestingly the last three games that they have played have all ended in draws.

Current form

Although both teams are going into the match having humbled the league leaders Bengaluru FC, there is not much to back it up in terms of form. Chennaiyin FC have lost five straight games before their win against Bengaluru and Kerala Blasters have three losses and two draws to their credit before their draw against the same team.

Prediction

Although there is no telling which side the game will go tomorrow I will bet on a drawn match giving both the teams one goal each. Score: 1-1