Punjab FC take on Hyderabad FC in the opening fixture of Matchweek 3 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.

This intriguing matchup sees Punjab FC, having won both of their opening games, sitting in third place in the points table, while Hyderabad FC, who lost 3-0 to Bengaluru FC with late goals in Matchweek 2, look to recover. Both managers will be facing each other for the first time in their managerial careers.
 
Punjab FC’s longest-ever winning streak
 
·      Victories in their last three ISL games mean that Punjab FC have now secured their longest winning streak in the ISL. However, they will be concerned about not keeping a clean sheet in any of their previous six matches, highlighting areas for improvement in their gameplay.
 
Hyderabad FC’s quest for goals
 
·       Hyderabad FC have never failed to score in three consecutive ISL games. Although they didn’t find the back of the net in their last two matches, the team will be looking to step up and take advantage of Punjab FC's leaky defence, who have conceded 10 goals in their last six games.
 
“We are backing our players to adjust to new conditions”

Luka Majcen’s absence has shifted the focus to Punjab FC’s new signing, Mushaga Bakenga, to lead the attack. The Norwegian forward has been searching for goals in the last two games and will be eager to finally find the back of the net at home against Thangboi Singto’s side. Head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis is backing Bakenga and the other new players to find their rhythm soon.
 
“Bakenga is a great player; he has played at the highest level. He needs time to adjust himself. We are here to support him. Not only Bakenga but all players who need time to adjust to the new conditions. I trust him and I believe in him, and I'm sure that in the future he will score goals,” Dilmperis said.

Read more from Punjab FC's pre-match press conference here.
 
“We have the desire to do well”
 
Hyderabad FC head coach Thangboi Singto acknowledges that his team needs to put in more work on the training ground and is hopeful of creating more goal-scoring opportunities and converting them in the upcoming match.
 
“We have not been really able to work on tactical aspects because we did not have much time. But overall, in terms of effort, in terms of the desire to do well, no complaints about this,” Singto said.

Read more from Hyderabad FC's pre-match press conference here.
 
Head-to-Head
 
Punjab FC are unbeaten against Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League (P2 W1 D1), making them one of four teams in the league that the Shers are yet to lose to.

Key Players & Milestones
 
·       Punjab FC’s Nihal Sudheesh has pulled off a combined 12 long progressive carries (10+ metres) in these two games, three more than the nine such carries he managed in his previous 13 appearances in the ISL.
 
·       Hyderabad FC’s Mohammed Rafi has averaged 6.8 clearances per game in the ISL this calendar year, the best such aggregate by any player (min. 4 games played).
 
·       Punjab FC’s Tekcham Abhishek Singh has won 88% of his attempted tackles since the start of 2023-24, with this rate being the second best among Indian players with more than 20 tackles attempted in that span (Sandeep Singh – 91.3%).
 
·       Abdul Rabeeh’s 46 touches inside the opposition’s box is the most by any Hyderabad FC player in this calendar year.
 
ISL Fantasy Picks
 
Lenny Rodrigues (5.5cr) – Hyderabad FC
 
Earned four fantasy points vs BFC
 
Filip Mrzljak (8cr) – Punjab FC
 
Has accumulated 13 points across two matchweeks.

Indian Super League will be streamed live free on JioCinema (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam) and telecasted live on Sports 18 — 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam). Additionally Sports 18 — 1, Sports 18 — 2 and Sports 18 — Khel will also broadcast live select ISL matches.