ISL 2017: Kerala Blasters vs NorthEast United FC - TV channel, stream, kick-off time & match preview

Rene Meulensteen’s Kerala Blasters FC will play host to Joao Pires de Deus’ NorthEast United FC after having succumbed to a 5-2 defeat away to FC Goa in their previous encounter. The Highlanders meanwhile are coming into the game on the back of a loss themselves after going down by a solitary goal in their home tie against Bengaluru FC.

Game	Kerala Blasters FC v NorthEastUnited FC
Date	Friday, December 15
Time	8 PM IST (GMT +5:30)

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL. The games will be telecast with the option of English and/or Hindi commentary over their bouquet of television as well as digital platforms.

India TV channels	Online streams
Star Sports 2/HD, Star Sports Hindi 1/HD, Star Sports 3, Star Gold, Star UTSAV	Hotstar and Jio TV

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

Malayalam TV channel	Bengali TV channel
Asianet Movies	Jalsha Movies

TEAM NEWS

KERALA BLASTERS FC

Injured: Dimitar Berbatov, Iain Hume
Doubtful: Wes Brown
Suspended: None
Key Players: Mark Sifneos, CK Vineeth

NorthEast United FC

Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Key Players: Marcinho, Danilo Lopes Cezario

GAME PREVIEW

Both Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United are coming into the game on the back of defeats so the pressure will be on either side to take the three points on Friday night.

The home side had started the new campaign with three home games in a kind run of fixtures. However, they have failed to make that home advantage count fully with three draws. What is an even more damning statistic for Meulensteen’s men is that they have scored only one goal in their three ties at Kochi.
The Highlanders meanwhile have struggled for goals themselves in the campaign so far, having scored only two goals in their four matches, both coming in their sole win against the Delhi Dynamos.

The Blasters’ saving grace so far in the campaign had been their defence but even that was shown up in their last match after Goa who put five past them at the Fatorda stadium.

Deus’ men have been more resolute in defence to compensate for their lack of goals and have conceded only four times so far.
With star forward Dimitar Berbatov out along with the highly experienced Iain Hume, Kerala Blasters have their work cut-out in attack. They will be pleased to welcome back CK Vineeth who missed the last game after picking up a red card against Mumbai City FC.

The visitors, on the other hand, will be looking for a bigger contribution in terms of goals from their talented Brazilian striker Danilo Lopes Cezario.

Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United both lie in the bottom-half of the ISL table with the former one spot below the latter in eighth position. Both teams are in urgent need of points and Friday's game could be pivotal for both teams