I-League Match Prediction Delhi FC vs. Gokulam Kerala FC, Feb 2

Match Details 

Teams: Delhi FC vs. Gokulam Kerala FC

Stadium: Namdhari Stadium, Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana, Punjab

Series: I-League

Hours of play: 14:00

Match day: Friday, March 02, 2024

Probable Starting 11

Delhi FC

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper:

• Pranjal Bhumij: He’s been Delhi FC’s undisputed choice in goal lately, showcasing commendable reflexes and composure. Expect him to retain his position.

Defenders:

• Manvinder Singh: A reliable right-back known for his defensive solidity and overlapping runs. His offensive contribution adds another dimension to Delhi’s play.
• A.K. Vanlalremruata: A rock-solid center-back pairing with Anwar Sadath, known for his aerial prowess and reading of the game. Their synergy has been crucial for Delhi’s defensive stability.
• Anwar Sadath: Another key center-back, offering calmness and composure in the backline. His partnership with Vanlalremruata has been effective in recent matches.
• Aniket Jadhav: Experienced left-back providing defensive solidity and dangerous crosses. He adds versatility and attacking threat down the flank.

Midfielders:

• Lalchungnunga Chhangte: A dynamic player who can operate anywhere across the midfield. His pace, dribbling skills, and eye for a pass create problems for defenses. He could start in a central role to control the tempo against Gokulam Kerala.
• Karan Fernandes: A creative midfielder with excellent passing range and vision. He dictates the tempo of the game and provides crucial assists. His presence is vital in unlocking Gokulam Kerala’s defense.
• Harpreet Singh: A hardworking defensive midfielder who offers cover and wins tackles. He provides a balance to Chhangte and Fernandes’ attacking tendencies.

Forwards:

• B.S. Sandhu: A powerful striker with an eye for goal. His clinical finishing has been crucial for Delhi’s recent wins. Look for him to lead the line and cause trouble for Gokulam Kerala’s defense.
• Sandeep Singh: A pacey winger who stretches defenses and creates space for teammates. He could start on the right side to utilize his crossing ability and put in dangerous deliveries.
• Himanshu Jangra: A versatile attacker who can play on either wing or as a second striker. His quick feet and dribbling skills could be valuable against Gokulam Kerala’s compact defense.

Gokulam Kerala FC

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper:

• Vishal Kaith: With his agility and shot-stopping prowess, Kaith has been Gokulam’s dependable custodian throughout the season. Expect him to start again.

Defenders:

• Dennis Polonio: A strong and experienced right-back known for his defensive solidity and ability to overlap into attack. He adds balance to the backline.
• Aminou Bakayoko: A towering center-back who dominates aerial duels and organizes the defense effectively. His partnership with Paulo Dias is crucial for Gokulam’s defensive stability.
• Paulo Dias: Another reliable center-back, known for his composure and reading of the game. He partners well with Bakayoko to form a solid defensive unit.
• Naorem Mahesh Singh: A versatile left-back who provides defensive cover and attacking threat down the flank. His overlapping runs and crosses can create problems for Delhi FC.

Midfielders:

• Muhammad Nemil Abdulrahman: A box-to-box midfielder with good passing range and work rate. He can link up the play and contribute in both attack and defense.
• **Muhammad Fazil: **A creative midfielder with excellent vision and dribbling skills. He dictates the tempo of the game and unlocks defenses with his clever passes. His presence is key to Gokulam’s attacking play.
• Lalrempuia: A hardworking defensive midfielder who wins tackles and breaks up play. He provides a shield for Gokulam’s backline and initiates counter-attacks.

Forwards:

• Luka Majcen: The Slovenian striker has been Gokulam’s most potent goalscoring threat this season. His clinical finishing and movement in the box will be a challenge for Delhi FC’s defense.
• Stevan Dimitrijevic: A pacey and skillful winger who can take on defenders and create scoring opportunities. He adds width and attacking threat down the right flank.
• Dennis Sibi: A young and energetic striker who can play off Majcen or run behind the defense. He provides another option in attack and can cause problems with his quick movement.

Teams Recent Performance 

Last 5 Games of Delhi FC

Date	League	Home Team	Score	Away Team
01/12/23	I-L	Delhi FC	2 – 1	Churchill Brothers
05/12/23	I-L	Namdhari	1 – 2	Delhi FC
11/12/23	I-L	Sreenidi Deccan	1 – 0	Delhi FC
15/12/23	I-L	Inter Kashi	2 – 0	Delhi FC
24/12/23	I-L	Delhi FC	1 – 0	Real Kashmir

Last 5 Games of Gokulam Kerala FC

Date	League	Home Team	Score	Away Team
16/12/23	I-L	Aizawl	1 – 1	Gokulam Kerala
19/12/23	I-L	Sreenidi Deccan	1 – 4	Gokulam Kerala
11/01/24	ASC	Mumbai City	2 – 1	Gokulam Kerala
16/01/24	ASC	Chennaiyin	2 – 0	Gokulam Kerala
21/01/24	ASC	Punjab	0 – 0	Gokulam Kerala

Topscorers Statistics in I-League 2023/2024

Delhi FC

Player	Goals	Penalty Goals
Sérgio Barboza	5	1
Aroldinho	4	0
G. Rawat	3	0
Hudson Dias	2	1
B. Gagandeep	2	0

Gokulam Kerala FC

Player	Goals	Penalty Goals
Álex Sánchez	12	2
Nili	3	0
V. Sreekuttan	3	0
Noufal PN	2	0
K. Tursunov	2	0

General Statistics

	Delhi FC			Gokulam Kerala
	Total	Home	Away	Total	Home	Away
Rank	7			6
Matches played	11	6	5	11	5	6
Wins	5	3	2	4	2	2
Draws	1	1	0	5	3	2
Losses	5	2	3	2	0	2
Goals for	20	12	8	23	14	9
Goals against	18	11	7	15	6	9
Points	16	10	6	17	9	8
Clean sheets	1	1	0	2	1	1
Avg. goals scored p/m	1.82	2	1.6	2.09	2.8	1.5
Avg. goals conceded p/m	1.64	1.83	1.4	1.36	1.2	1.5
Avg. time 1st goal scored	47m	57m	25m	33m	35m	32m
Avg. time 1st goal conced.	29m	19m	43m	44m	47m	41m
Failed to score	2	0	2	1	0	1
Biggest victory	5 – 1	1 – 0	5 – 1	5 – 0	5 – 0	4 – 1
Biggest defeat	0 – 2	3 – 4	0 – 2	0 – 3	–	0 – 3

Delhi FC vs. Gokulam Kerala FC: Winning Prediction

Recent Performance

• Delhi FC: The Lions have been inconsistent lately, with a win (2-1 against Real Kashmir), a draw (1-1 against Aizawl FC), and a loss (0-1 against Rajasthan United) in their last three games. They currently sit 7th in the I-League table, with 14 points from 12 matches.
• Gokulam Kerala FC: The Malabarians have also struggled for consistency, winning two (2-0 against Real Kashmir and 3-1 against Aizawl FC), drawing one (0-0 against Churchill Brothers), and losing one (0-2 against Rajasthan United) in their last four outings. They are currently one place above Delhi FC in 6th position with 15 points from 12 matches.

Current Form

• Delhi FC: The Lions have shown glimpses of their attacking prowess, but their defensive lapses have cost them points. They have the potential to dominate against a team like Gokulam, but their inconsistency remains a concern.
• Gokulam Kerala FC: The Malabarians are known for their attacking flair and creativity, but their reliance on individual brilliance can leave them vulnerable to counter-attacks. Their recent form suggests they are a team capable of springing a surprise, but their defensive frailties could be their undoing.

Prediction

This is a close call, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. Delhi FC have the home advantage and a slightly stronger squad on paper, but their inconsistency makes them difficult to trust. Gokulam Kerala FC are capable of upsetting the Lions, especially if their attackers are on form.

Delhi FC to win narrowly, but with a high chance of a draw..

I-League Table on 25/01/2024

#	Team	MP	D	P*
1	Mohammedan	11	14	27
2	Real Kashmir	11	12	20
3	Sreenidi Deccan	11	11	20
4	Aizawl	11	8	19
5	Shillong Lajong	11	4	19
6	Gokulam Kerala	11	8	17
7	Delhi FC	11	2	16
8	Inter Kashi	11	-5	15
9	Rajasthan United	11	-6	12
10	Churchill Brothers	10	3	12
11	Namdhari	11	-11	8
12	NEROCA	11	-18	7
13	TRAU	11	-22	4

* MP – Matches Played; D – Goal Difference; P – Points.

Report About Namdhari Stadium 

Namdhari Stadium is located in Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. It is the home ground of Namdhari Football Club, a professional football club based in Bhaini Sahib. The club is part of the multi-sports Namdhari Sports Academy and competes in the Punjab State Super League.

Namdhari Football Club was first formed in 1975 as Namdhari XI. In 2004, Namdhari Sports Academy was built in Sri Bhaini Sahib, near Ludhiana. With growing interest in football, the Namdharis established their first football academy in 2018.

The stadium has a capacity of 1,000 spectators. It served as the home stadium for Namdhari FC in its inaugural I-League season. The I-League is the current second division of the Indian football league system.

The Namdhari movement, of which the club is a part, was started by Satguru Ram Singh Ji in April 1857 at Sri Bhaini Sahib. The Namdhari Sikhs, also known as Kukas, played a very prominent role in the political freedom of India from the bondage of the Imperialist British rulers. They hold a unique place in the resistance movement.

About I-League

The I-League is the men’s second-tier of the Indian football league system. It was founded in 2007 as the successor to the National Football League, with the first season starting in November 2007. The competition was launched as India’s first-ever top-tier professional football league with the aim to increase the player pool for the India national team.

Currently, the I-League is contested by 13 clubs. The winners get promoted to the Indian Super League. The I-League operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the I-League 2. Since the inception of the I-League, a total of seven clubs have been crowned champions. Dempo has won the most titles in league history, being crowned champions three times.

The I-League was formed after the 2006–07 NFL season. The league’s first season consisted of eight teams from the previous NFL campaign and two teams from the 2nd Division to form a 10-team league. The league announced a change in their foreign-player restrictions with the new rule being that all the clubs could sign four foreigners – three non-Asian and one which must be Asian.