Kerala Blasters FC will look to bounce back from their opening defeat and secure their first home win of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season when they host Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM on October 25, will be Kerala Blasters’ first home fixture of the campaign. The hosts will be eager to respond after suffering a 4-1 defeat against NorthEast United FC in Guwahati in their previous outing.

Despite the disappointing result, the Blasters showed glimpses of attacking promise. Momo Yansane scored their only goal, finishing a move created by an inventive backheel assist from captain Adrian Luna. The Uruguayan playmaker made his return to ISL action after 585 days away from the competition, offering the team a creative presence in the attacking third.

Head coach Ashley Westwood will look to build on those positives while addressing the defensive lapses that proved costly against NorthEast United. Playing in front of their home supporters could provide the Blasters with an opportunity to regain confidence and establish momentum early in the season.

Westwood Eying Tough Test Against Mumbai

Westwood has warned his side against underestimating Mumbai City FC, despite the Islanders’ relatively modest start to the campaign. Mumbai have suffered a 2-1 defeat against Churchill Brothers and played out a 1-1 draw with Punjab FC in their opening two matches.

The Kerala Blasters head coach believes Mumbai’s performances suggest they are capable of producing better results and expects a stern challenge from a side featuring several experienced Indian internationals and quality overseas players.

“We’re expecting a tough game. Mumbai haven’t earned as many points as their performances and statistics suggest they should have. They’re underperforming in terms of results, and their performances indicate that they’re better than their league position might suggest, although they’ve played only two games,” Westwood said.

“They have good players, including several regular national-team players. They have quality foreign players, a good manager and a strong club. We expect a difficult match.”

Mumbai City boast a blend of Indian and overseas talent, with Brandon Fernandes, Farukh Choudhary, Muhammed Ajsal, Sergio Llamas, Carlos Delgado, Leander Otormin and Lazar Circovic among the players available to the Islanders.

For Kerala, Luna’s creativity and Yansane’s ability to lead the attack could be central to their plans. The Blasters will need greater defensive discipline while making better use of their attacking opportunities against an opposition that has shown promise despite its early results.

Yansane Calls For ‘Belief & Collective Improvement’

Yansane, who opened his account for the season against NorthEast United, believes hard work, confidence and a willingness to learn will be essential as Kerala Blasters seek to turn their fortunes around.

“For me, it comes down to desire. You have to work hard and believe in yourself. I believe in this team and my teammates. They’re ready for the game and the league, and they’re showing that they’re willing to listen and learn,” the forward said.

He added that the players were committed to following the coach’s instructions and making the necessary adjustments to improve the team’s performances.

“We’re working hard to bring positive changes to the team and help the coach achieve his objectives,” Yansane said.

Westwood echoed the importance of steady progress, stressing that the squad must focus on improving its performances rather than expecting an immediate turnaround.

“We have to work with what we’ve got and focus on improving every day. If we do that, we’re doing our jobs correctly. We can’t expect miracles, but we can expect daily improvement, hard work, determination and a genuine desire to win,” he said.

Kerala Blasters Look To Weave the Tide Of Home Advantage

The two sides have met 25 times across all competitions, with Mumbai City recording 12 victories, Kerala Blasters winning seven and six matches ending in draws.

However, the Blasters can draw confidence from their recent home record against the Islanders, having won two of their last three meetings at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Kerala will hope to use that advantage to their benefit as they seek their first victory of the season. For Mumbai City, the fixture presents an opportunity to convert encouraging performances into a positive result and build momentum after an inconsistent start.