The final Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 match before the winter break will see high-flying Mumbai City FC host a struggling Kerala Blasters FC side at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday. Both teams will look to sign off the 2018 calendar year with a positive result.

Three points from the fixture will be particularly important to Kerala to keep themselves afloat in the race for a playoff spot, at least mathematically.

Mumbai City FC

After a poor start to the season, Mumbai have been in scintillating form of late. The Islanders are unbeaten in their last seven matches and currently occupy the second spot in the table behind Bengaluru FC. A win against Kerala will help them cut down Bengaluru's lead to just three points and set them up for a late charge for the top spot once the Hero ISL resumes in 2019.

The Islanders will be full of confidence going into the match after having held off Bengaluru to a 1-1 draw in their last match, despite having to play more than 40 minutes with 10 men. The team will, however, be without the services of defensive midfielder Sehnaj Singh, who was sent off after a second booking against the Blues.

The Mumbai defence has been at the heart of their seven-match unbeaten streak. Lucian Goian and Co. have conceded just three times in these seven matches, while keeping five clean sheets. On the attacking front, the likes of Modou Sougou and Arnold Issoko seem to have hit their stride of late and will prove to be a stiff challenge for the Kerala defence.

Here’s a look at Mumbai’s current season in numbers:

Kerala Blasters FC

Kerala's story this season has been the exact opposite to Mumbai's. David James' men stayed unbeaten in their first five matches, but the wheels came off after that. With just two points from their last seven matches, Kerala have steadily dropped down the table and are currently occupy the eighth spot. The two-time finalists now face an uphill task to keep their top four ambitions alive and will virtually need to win all of their remaining fixtures while hoping other results go their way.

Scoring goals have been a major issue for Kerala this season. The team has one of the worst goal returns in the league so far and have found the net just eleven times in as many matches. A leaky defence, prone to conceding late goals, haven't helped their cause either.

Here’s a look at Kerala’s current season in numbers:

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

MUMBAI CITY FC: Amrinder Singh (GK), Sauvik Chakrabarti, Lucian Goian, Joyner Lourenco, Subhasish Bose, Arnold Issoko, Raynier Fernandes, Milan Singh, Paulo Machado (C), Modou Sougou, Rafael Bastos

KERALA BLASTERS FC: Dheeraj Singh (GK), Sandesh Jhingan (C), Anas Edathodika, Nemanja Lakic-Pesic, Cyril Kali, Zakeer Mundampara, Nikola Krcmarevic, Sahal Abdul Samad, CK Vineeth, Halicharan Narzary, Matej Poplatnik

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Mumbai are on a seven-match unbeaten streak.
  • Kerala are winless in 10 matches.
  • Kerala have scored just two first-half goals this season – the least by any team.

FANSPEAK

Which Indian defender will stamp their authority on the match?

  • Subhasish Bose
  • Sandesh Jhingan

Have your say in the comments section below.

Catch the match live on the Star Sports Network, Hotstar and Jio TV from 7:30 PM.