ISL 2021/22

  MARGAO: Coming off big defeats, both  NorthEast United FC  and  Kerala Blasters  would look to open their account and get their campaign up and running when they face off in the  Indian Super League  (ISL) on Thursday.  While the Khalid Jamil-coached NorthEast United conceded four goals against an experienced  Bengaluru FC , Kerala Blasters too lost by a 2-4 margin to last edition's runners-up  ATK Mohun Bagan  in their opener. Kerala Blasters' pre-season performances provided hope but they found the going too tough against a strong and thoroughly professional ATK Mohun Bagan.  At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday, the southerners will get another opportunity to impress and open their account in this edition of the league.  It is not going to be easy though against the Highlanders who fought hard against a fancied Bengaluru FC outfit.  The team from the eastern part of the country came back twice to leve...

  For the second season running, Indian Super League (ISL) is being held in a bio-bubble in Goa, but for Odisha FC (OFC) the bubble had burst in the very last season. Finishing rock-bottom last year with only two wins, Odisha certainly needed an overhaul at season-end. With an eye on turning their fortunes, the Bhubaneswar-based club revamped their squad and backroom staff in the summer. Whether that is good enough to deliver the goods this time around will be put to test when Kiko Ramirez’s boys start their 2021-22 ISL sojourn against former champions Bengaluru FC (BFC) at Tilak Maidan in Goa on Wednesday. However, both clubs have a tone of similarity as BFC, too, have undergone quite a change following a below-par season last time that saw them finish seventh and missed out on a knockout berth for the first time in their four-season ISL history. While the Kalinga Warriors are starting their campaign, Marco Pezzaiuoli’s BFC have started off with a thumping 4-2 win over NorthEast U...

It's that time of the year again. Ahead of the latest season of the ISL, ESPN looks at the major factors that could affect each of the eleven teams in the league. We pick out 6 aspects - the coach, one player to watch out for in each team, the team's biggest strength, the one nagging worry that could hold them back this season, what to watch out for, and their most exciting new signing. Oh, and we give a way-too-early predictions that you absolutely shouldn't hold against us come the end of the season. Mumbai City FC Coach: (NEW)  Des Buckingham. Replaces double-winning Sergio Lobera and has  a   lot  to live up to. Player:  Ahmed Jahouh. Nobody runs an ISL game quite like him. Strength:  That midfield oozes class. The signing of Apuia makes them even better. Worry:  Mohammad Nawaz is a very talented keeper, but can he provide the unrelenting solidity that Amrinder Singh did? W2W4:  Buckingham adapting to the ISL; Jahouh in midfield without his us...

Debutants Hugo Boumous and Liston Colaco score delectable goals as Mohun Bagan lay down the marker in the season opener. Once again it was an ATK Mohun Bagan-Kerala Blasters clash that kicked off a new season of the Indian Super League. And once again it was Mohun Bagan who emerged victorious. But unlike last season's 1-0 win in the opener, on Friday, Antonio Habas-coached side registered a  brutal 4-2 win . Brutal it had to be. After narrowly missing out on the league shield and ISL title earlier this year to Mumbai City FC, Habas and his team are in no mood to take things lightly. The preparations for the season began long back and it started by raiding the defending champions Mumbai for the highest assist-maker in ISL history — Hugo Boumous. The transfer splurge did not just stop there. In another expensive deal, Liston Colaco was acquired from Hyderabad FC. Amrinder Singh joined the squad on a free transfer from Mumbai while Finland international Joni Kauko who played...

An engaging contest is on the cards as last year’s runner-up ATK Mohun Bagan lock horns with former finalist Kerala Blasters FC in the season opener of the Indian Super League’s (ISL) 2021-22. The high octane match will be played on Friday, November 19 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Fatorda and kicks off at 07:30 PM IST. The Kolkata outfit have retained much of the previous season’s squad and under the same tutelage of coach Antonio Lopez Habas. However, they did some shopping in the transfer window and have roped in Joni Kauko and Hugo Boumous to boost firepower in the midfield. Meanwhile, the Blasters had a forgetful last season, finishing 10th on the points table. The Yellow brigade too have made few changes, as they will be under new coach Ivan Vukomanovic and few new set of foreign players in a hope for title finish. ISL 2021-22 ATK Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters: Team News, Injury Update Both sides have no injury concerns . ISL 2021-22 ATK Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blaste...

The Indian Super League 2021-22 season will get underway from Friday with ATK Mohun Bagan locking horns with the Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao (Goa). The eighth edition of the league will consist of the same 11 teams as last season and the fixtures of the first 55 matches have been announced by the organisers. The rest of the schedule will be revealed in due time. Similar to previous season, the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has announced that the matches will be played behind the closed doors amid fears of a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Three venues in Goa will host the first phase matches which runs till January 9, 2022. The eighth edition of the ISL brings with it the biggest rule change in the league in years, which could have a significant impact on the national team. The ISL 2021-22 season will have ‘3+1’ rule, which means 3 (foreign players) + 1 (inclusion of an Asian player) for all matches. Earlier, a team could fiel...

Kolkata:   Indian Super League heavyweights ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Antonio Lopez Habas on Wednesday announced three captains, including Fijian ace striker Roy Krishna, for the season beginning on Friday. Reiterating the need for joint leadership to keep the team's unity intact, the Spanish gaffer chose two local star players Pritam Kotal and Subhasish Bose along with the Fijian as the skippers. The announcement came two days ahead of the team's opening match against Kerala Blasters on Friday at Margao. Elated at the new responsibility, Subhasish said: "We are from Bengal and getting the chance of captainship in the Green Maroon jersey is a different passion for us. The coach has chosen me, it's an honour, and the responsibility has increased." For the team's dependable defender Kotal, this is the second consecutive season to wear the captain's armband. "The coach has put his trust in me. It is a big gift and a great honour," Kotal said. ...

SC East Bengal on Monday announced a 33-member squad for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2021/22 season, with last season’s ‘Golden Glove’ winner, goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya, coming into the side from ATK Mohun Bagan. Besides, the red and gold brigade will also have the likes of Adil Khan lending solidity to defence and Raju Gaikwad adding experience after extending his stay with the club. The midfield has been bolstered by India U-23 international Amarjit Singh Kiyam who will have support from seasoned campaigners Md. Rafique, Jackichand Singh and Bikash Jairu. Ajax youth academy product Darren Sidoel and Slovenian midfielder Amir Dervisevic will also pull the strings for the Kolkata-based club, both having rubbed shoulders with some of the best in the business. Nigerian striker Daniel Chima Chukwu, a three-time Norwegian first division league winner with Molde FK, will lead the attacking line for SC East Bengal. Croatia forward Antonio Perosevic will be there to support as will Ba...