-Soumyaroop Mukherjee

ISL 2026: Punjab FC aim to extend their unbeaten run when they face Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

Punjab FC lost to Jamshedpur FC in the first round but are unbeaten in three matches since. They beat Bengaluru FC and drew with NorthEast United FC and FC Goa. The Shers currently sit in the eighth spot with five points from four games. Kerala Blasters are 13th with one point from five.

Kerala Blasters seek first win after poor start

Kerala Blasters lost their first four matches, including three at home. They earned a first point with a 1-1 draw against East Bengal. Muhammad Ajsal scored a stoppage-time equaliser. Head Coach David Català felt the team showed character, but accepted the wider problems remain.

Panjab FC drew 1-1 against FC Goa in their last game. Nsungusi Effiong scored but received a red card early in the second half. The forward will miss the next three matches. The suspension denies Punjab their top scorer during a busy phase.

ISL 2026: Coaches analysis

Panagiotis Dilmperis said Punjab FC have been better than rivals in all games. He stressed quicker decisions and finishing in attack. Català said the draw with East Bengal can build belief. He urged his players to repeat that display and stay confident.

ISL 2026: Head-to-head record

The clubs have met four times in the ISL, winning two matches each. Every victory came away from home. Blasters beat Punjab 1-0 in New Delhi last season, with Noah Sadaoui scoring. Punjab earlier won 2-1 in Kochi in Dilmperis’s first match.

Mutual respect between coaches

Català called Punjab FC a difficult team. He praised their compact defence and discipline after scoring. Dilmperis said recent Kerala games against Chennaiyin and East Bengal showed player potential. He warned that Punjab must handle Kerala’s early energy before settling into its rhythm.

Punjab defender Muhammad Uvais said he is happy to play in his home state. He called each match a final in a short season. Kerala defender Aiban Dohling said Punjab are strong in attack and transitions and urged focus, effort, and calm to chase three points.

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