East Bengal FC will host Hyderabad FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), Kolkata, in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on Wednesday.

East Bengal FC have won twice in a row coming into this match. However, their prospects of qualifying for the top-6 are extremely difficult. Currently, at 24 points from 21 games, even three wins from here will take them to 33 – just one more than the currently sixth-positioned Mumbai City FC (32), who also have as many games in hand (currently played 21).

The situation is not so bright for Hyderabad FC, who have won and lost twice each in the previous five games, placing themselves in the penultimate position with 17 points from 21 encounters.

East Bengal FC have not lost in their previous three ISL fixtures against Hyderabad FC, winning twice and drawing once. It is their longest such active streak against any opponent. Another positive outcome will make it their joint-longest unbeaten run against a single opponent in the ISL. Hyderabad FC, however, are struggling on the road, since they have been winless in their previous six away games (D1 L5) – and their last longest such sequence spanned 10 matches from March 2023-February 2024.

Regardless of the current playoff scenarios, both these sides will look to take their learning from the season so far to sign off on a high.

East Bengal FC’s Regular Rotations

• ⁠⁠Goal-Scoring Form: East Bengal FC have netted three goals in each of their last two matches. They have never scored multiple goals in three successive ISL games before, and the side will look to snap that streak against Hyderabad FC.
• ⁠Lineup Rotations: East Bengal FC have made 57 changes to their starting line-up this season, the most by any team in ISL 2024-25. Has lack of consistency here hurt their chances in the current campaign?

Hyderabad FC’s Defensive Strengths

• ⁠⁠Poor Away Form: Hyderabad FC have faced losses in 12 matches this season, with eight of those coming away from home. Only NorthEast United FC (9 in 2022-23) have recorded more away defeats in a single ISL campaign.
• ⁠⁠Defensive Solidity: However, Hyderabad FC have maintained a league-high tackle success rate of 78.8% since the start of 2025 (93/118 tackles won). East Bengal FC, however, have emerged victorious in 70.1% of their tackles, which is the sixth among all teams.

Head-to-Head

The two teams have played nine games against each other, with Hyderabad FC winning four times and East Bengal FC have emerged victorious twice. Three games have produced draws.

Coaches Corner

“Our team looks in good shape”

East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon expressed that his team looks well-settled to further their victorious streak.

“Our team looks in good shape, and form, and is determined to sustain our winning run and finish the season on the best note. We cannot take our opponents lightly,” he said.

“We have prepared well for this match”

Hyderabad FC interim head coach Shameel Chembakath asserted that his team believes in a positive brand of football.

“I believe in aggressive and possession-based football. The players believe in that idea very positively too and we have prepared well for this match,” he said.

Key Players & Milestones

• ⁠East Bengal FC’s Naorem Mahesh Singh could become only the third East Bengal FC player to score in three consecutive matches, after Cleiton Silva and Saul Crespo. But, he is yet to register a goal contribution against Hyderabad FC.
• ⁠Hyderabad FC’s Issac Vanmalsawma has capped off 19.5 successful passes per game in the opponent’s half in ISL in 2025, ranking second among Indian players behind only Lalengmawia Ralte (20.9).
• ⁠East Bengal FC’s Vishnu Puthiya is one away from reaching 10+ goal contributions in ISL for the club. He can become only the second Indian player to reach this milestone for the club after Mahesh.

ISL Fantasy

Vishnu Puthiya (5.4cr)

The EBFC star has earned the most ISL fantasy points (74) in his team this season

Andrei Alba (4.9cr)

The Hyderabad FC player has bagged the most ISL fantasy points (93) in his side this season

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