Kerala Blasters will look to end the league season on a high note with a home match against Hyderabad FC

Ivan Vukomanovic's men are level on points with the Mariners with the Kolkata derby still to play. Here is a detailed preview of the match between Kerala Blasters and Hyderabad FC. As they have a lower level record compared to ATK Mohun Bagan, Blasters need a win and hope to get a good result for East Bengal in the derby and also to finish in the top four and have a chance to play. Eliminator at home. They enter the match on a back-to-back losing streak and will hope to end their winless run and gain confidence. Despite already qualifying for the last four, Hyderabad will field their core team as they look to end the league stage on a high. They have conceded the fewest goals this season, a record they will be looking to maintain. Rahul suspended KP for red card. Marko Leskovic returns from injury. Apart from Laxmikant Kattimani, who is out for the season, Hyderabad FC have a fit squad. The centre-back has been out of action due to a muscle strain, but with his fitness he is a huge presence at the heart of the Kerala Blasters defence. He's not afraid to put his body on the line and is a good long passer from deep. Leskovic's return will be a huge shot for the Blasters to make the playoffs. The think-tank wants him to be back to his best before the eliminator. The versatile midfielder has been a mainstay for Hyderabad FC with three goals and five assists so far this season. He has two assists in the last two games and looks forward to threading through-balls into the box. He linked up well with Bartholomew Ogbeche and consistently dominated the number of touches and passes completed. The upcoming playoffs will be full of exciting football action.

Bengaluru FC's win over FC Goa at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday meant the race for the Indian Super League (ISL) play-off spots was over. 

During the league's 2022–23 campaign, six teams had the chance to play in the play-off matches to clinch the ISL title. The competition for the playoffs was tough. The battle for the remaining four spots was fierce as Hyderabad FC secured second place at the start of the season as Mumbai secured the City League Winners Shield. After MCFC and HFC made it to the playoffs, ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters followed them to the next stage, entering Bengaluru FC. It was then a head-to-head battle between FC Goa and Odisha FC for the final spot, with the latter coming out on top after a dramatic finish. With fans excited for the ISL 2022-23 playoffs, here's a look at how six Mumbai cities played in a league of their own during the 2022-23 campaign. Des Buckingham was two games away from leading the club to an unbeaten season. Islanders won the ISL 2022-23 League Winners Shield in style and looked like favorites to lift the ISL title. A strong Indian contingent is one of Mumbai City's key assets. Players like Laliansuwala Changte, Bipin Singh and Lalengmavia are in terrific form. Players like George Diaz, Greg Stewart and Mourtada Fall make the Islanders dangerous. However, the last two league matches have resulted in two defeats for the team, which is a problem going into the playoffs.

Hyderabad FC is the second team behind MCFC to secure a direct berth in the semi-finals of the ISL playoffs. 

The defending champions of the Indian Super League enter the playoffs hoping to retain their title. Manolo Marquez is the driving force behind the Nizams who continue to punch above their weight in the competition. Kerala Blasters are yet to win in the Indian Super League. Last time the Yellow Army reached the final but lost to Hyderabad FC in the final on penalties. It was a close case for Ivan Vukomanović's men. The club has a chance to win their first ISL title but is ahead. While Kerala Blasters FC are tactically sound, they have struggled to find consistency and rhythm this term. As the ISL 2022-23 season heads into its final league match, KBFC have lost three out of four. Players like Adrian Luna give KBFC fans a lot of hope. He is one of the best foreign players in the league. Domestic players like Sahal Abdul Samad, Rahul KP and others will have to pull their weight in the playoffs.Odisha FC wrote a new chapter in their short history by securing the playoffs for the first time in the ISL. Kalinga Warriors lost their last league match to Jamshedpur FC and had to rely on Bengaluru FC to defeat Gaur to reach the knockout stage. Although qualifying as such was not the plan, the club will be looking to cause a few upsets. Odisha FC has decent individual players like Diego Mauricio and Saul Crespo who can turn any game into their team. However, it also exposes the lack of cohesion in the team. The club needs more from the rest of the squad, who rely heavily on Mauricio's goals. The striker has scored 12 of the club's 30 goals in the league.