Chennai, Jan 29 (Reporter) Chennaiyin FC will host Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) match on Thursday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here. Chennaiyin FC are currently 10th in the points table with 18 points from as many matches, having won four games and drawn six. Kerala Blasters FC, on the other hand, are placed eighth with 21 points from 18 matches, with six wins and three draws. The Kochi-based team are aiming to enter the top-six positions, trailing the sixth-placed NorthEast United FC, who have 25 points. However, the Highlanders are at an advantageous position since they have played a game fewer (17) than Kerala Blasters FC. TG Purushothaman’s side are looking to complete a league double over Chennaiyin FC for the second time in ISL history (also in 2021-22), having won the reverse fixture 3-0 on November 24, 2024. However, Chennaiyin FC have never lost a home game against Kerala Blasters FC in ISL history (W5 D4), including a 1-0 victory in their most recent meeting in Chennai (February 16, 2024). A clean sheet in this game would see the Marina Machans record back-to-back shutouts at home against the Kerala Blasters FC for the first time ever. Chennaiyin FC have not tasted victory in their last five matches, drawing thrice and losing twice. Kerala Blasters FC, on the other hand, have emerged victorious in two games, lost an equal number of encounters, and been defeated once in the preceding five encounters heading into this one. Both these sides have six games left to produce a positive juggernaut that could potentially take them into the playoffs positions, and their current situations are such that they cannot afford to concede an inch in this neck-to-neck battle for the top-six. Chennaiyin FC, on the other hand, are struggling, remaining winless in their last six games (D3 L3). They have failed to score in their last two outings, with their last winless streak longer than this coming in the 2022-23 season when they went eight games without a victory (D5 L3), including a 1-2 loss to Kerala Blasters FC on February 7, 2023. Kerala Blasters FC have recorded 421 crosses this season, the most in the league. Chennaiyin FC are third in this regard (383 crosses) but have the best cross accuracy (32.6%) among all teams. The Marina Machans backline will have to be cautious against succumbing to the pressure that the Kochi-based unit will try to exert from lateral areas. Kerala Blasters FC have won three of their last six ISL matches, keeping three clean sheets in this stretch while conceding just five goals. This marks a significant defensive improvement, as they had only one clean sheet while conceding 24 goals in the 12 matches prior. Chennaiyin FC have conceded the most penalties this season (7), while both teams have conceded five goals via penalties, the joint-most in the league alongside FC Goa. Their defence will have to reorganise to avoid committing regular errors inside the 18-yard area, that opens the floodgates for the opponents to find the back of the net. Connor Shields (11.1) has recorded the highest average penalty area entries per game this season. Shields’ numbers are the highest recorded in a completed ISL season (previous best – Rafael Crivellaro, 10.9 in 2020-21). The 28-year-old leads the assist charts with eight of them in the current campaign, in addition to a solitary strike. Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle said that his team needs to maximise points from home matches. “We have to capitalise on our home games. We have got some good results against some good teams, but it is about working hard together, which the boys are doing,” he said. Kerala Blasters FC interim head coach TG Purushothaman hoped that his team will create more goal-scoring opportunities. “In the last match, we didn’t create enough scoring chances. We have to overcome everything as a team and I hope to rectify this in the next match,” he said. The two teams have faced each other 23 times in the ISL, with Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters FC winning seven games each. Nine matches have produced draws. Kerala Blasters FC’s Noah Sadaoui has been the league’s leading ball progressor, recording 107 of them so far this season. Sadaoui has had a productive campaign, scoring seven goals, registering five assists, along with making 22 successful dribbles, and 33 key passes thus far. Kerala Blasters FC’s Adrian Luna is one away from becoming the all-time top assist provider in this fixture. He has provided four assists in this match-up thus far, tied with Rafael Crivellaro, and Luna has found the back of the net thrice against the Marina Machans as well. Chennaiyin FC’s Wilmar Jordan Gil is one goal away from his highest-ever ISL season tally. He has found the back of the net eight times in the current edition of the competition, recording a 22.86% conversion rate upfront, in addition to making 67 touches inside the opposition’s box...////...