"A game of two halves"—that’s the best way to describe Punjab FC’s journey in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. The Shers made a flying start to their campaign and were, at one point, sharing the top two spots with Bengaluru FC. However, as the season progressed, they lost momentum, slipped out of the top half of the table, and ultimately fell short of a playoff berth.

Despite the disappointment, Punjab FC made significant strides by seamlessly integrating their academy players into the senior setup, laying the groundwork for the club’s future. In a season filled with high hopes that ended in frustration, the Shers built a squad capable of competing for years to come. With an average age of 25 years and 216 days, Punjab FC boasts the league's youngest squad, signalling the dawn of a promising future.

Under the guidance of Panagiotis Dilmperis, Punjab FC hit the ground running with three consecutive wins. A statement victory against Kerala Blasters FC in Kochi, sealed by Filip Mrzljak’s late winner, set the tone for a side that entered the season with big aspirations.

The Shers netted 14 goals in their first eight matches, registering an expected goals (xG) tally of 12.4. They created 18 big chances and dropped only three points from winning positions during this phase.

However, Punjab FC suffered back-to-back narrow defeats away to Bengaluru FC and FC Goa. Still, with five wins in their first eight matches, they had made a strong early impression in the league.

Record

Pl: 24; W: 8; L: 12; D: 4; Pts: 28; GF: 34; GA: 38

Positives

Punjab FC have done a tremendous job of introducing fresh talent to the ISL, developing their academy players, and providing them with essential game time. Throughout the season, Punjab FC’s U23 players accumulated 7,522 minutes on the field—the highest among all teams this season.

Under the leadership of their Greek head coach, players like Muheet Shabir, Pramveer Singh, Ricky Shabong, Manglenthang Kipgen, and Muhammad Suhail F delivered promising performances in the 2024-25 season. Moreover, Punjab FC’s U23 players contributed to nine goals, accounting for 69.2% of the team's total goal contributions from Indian players this year.

Negatives

Despite making a flawless start to their campaign, the Shers experienced a noticeable dip in form as they began to struggle from mid-season onward. From December to March, Punjab FC won only three of their 16 games, securing just 13 out of a possible 48 points. Moreover, they conceded 29 goals during this phase despite having an expected goals against (xGA) of 17.44.

Punjab FC suffered defeats against East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and Jamshedpur FC in both legs. Additionally, losses to Kerala Blasters, FC Goa, and Chennaiyin FC dealt a huge blow to their playoff hopes.

Despite Dilmperis’ men defeating Hyderabad FC and sharing the spoils with Mohammedan Sporting Club, the Shers couldn’t cross the finish line, ultimately missing out on a playoff spot in their second ISL season.

Punjab FC’s attacking trio has been the key to their success—whether it was this season’s combination of Luka Majcen, Asmir Suljic, and Ezequiel Vidal or last year’s trio of Luka Majcen, Madih Talal, and Wilmar Jordan Gil.

The Majcen-Suljic-Vidal trio recorded 31 goal contributions this season while creating 77 chances. Despite their dominance in Punjab FC’s attacking play with impactful performances, the Shers fell short of a playoff berth in their second ISL season.

Here is a statistical breakdown of this forward trio:

Season	2023-24				2024-25
Key Metrics	Madih Talal	Luka Majcen	Wilmar Jordán	Overall	Asmir Suljic	Ezequiel Vidal	Luka Majcen	Overall
Games Played	22	22	15	NA	23	22	20	NA
Goals	6	8	8	22	4	7	10	21
Assists	10	2	1	13	4	3	3	10
Expected Goals	3.85	6.28	5.83	15.96	3.16	3.14	7.46	13.76
Expected Assists	4.73	1.15	0.98	6.86	1.96	5.15	1.18	8.29
Total Shots	60	39	46	145	20	51	40	111
Shots on Target	21	18	17	56	10	16	25	51
Shot Conversion Rate (%)	10.0%	20.5%	17.4%	15.2%	20.0%	13.7%	25.0%	18.9%
Chances Created	57	24	10	91	28	36	13	77
Touches in the Opp Box	64	72	61	197	36	45	59	140
Penalty Area Entries	134	19	12	165	87	132	17	236
Dribbles Attempted	97	16	27	140	38	28	10	76
Dribbles Completed	42	7	13	62	23	15	2	40

Best player: Luka Majcen

Luka Majcen once again led the Shers' forward line with his goal-scoring consistency and leadership on the pitch.

The experienced forward netted 10 goals this season while also registering three assists. The Punjab FC captain maintained a 28.57% goal conversion rate, averaging 0.5 goals per game.

Best young player: Abhishek Singh

Abhishek Singh had an impressive season with the Shers, earning his first India call-up and making his debut against Malaysia in a recent friendly match.

Known for his explosive pace down the flank, smart ball distribution in build-up play, precise crossing, and quick tracking back, the 20-year-old fullback has been a regular starter for Punjab FC this season. Singh averaged 30 passes per game with a 77% passing accuracy, won 33 tackles and 86 duels, and completed 141 recoveries in his second ISL season.

The Punjab FC academy graduate has shown great promise with his consistent performances, positioning himself as a potential top fullback in the coming years.

What do they need next season?

Punjab FC developed several young players this season, offering a glimpse of promise for the years to come. Under the guidance of Dilmperis, the Shers delivered some excellent performances throughout the campaign but struggled with consistency—something they will aim to improve next season. Bringing in more experienced players, especially Indian recruits, could help address this issue.

Additionally, Punjab FC faced challenges in goal, as neither Ravi Kumar nor Muheet Shabir could provide the stability needed between the posts. To strengthen their squad, the Shers should prioritize signing an experienced goalkeeper for the upcoming season.