Indian Super League 2024-25 is about to witness the 18th encounter between Kerala Blasters FC and Bengaluru FC, known as the 'Southern Derby' tonight at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Though Bengaluru FC came victorious in most of these fixtures, Kerala Blasters FC will always try their best to cause havoc. It is never a cakewalk for any team in a Derby match. 

Kerala Blasters, the team hailing from the western part of South India, will host Bengaluru FC, the team from central South India in this special rivalry tonight in Kochi. So, this match is expected to write another memorable chapter between these two teams. 

Ahead of tonight's match, Sportzpoint has selected the 5 best face-offs between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters across all competitions. 

ISL 2018-19 | Bengaluru FC 2-2 Kerala Blasters 

Bengaluru FC hosted Kerala Blasters at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru for the league game in the ISL 2018-19 on 6 February 2019. 

Kean Lewis conceded an early penalty on behalf of Bengaluru and Slavisa Stojanovic delivered the spot-kick past Gurpreet and gave Kerala the lead in the 16th minute. The hosts got into more trouble before the half-time whistle as Courage Pekuson doubled up the lead for the Blasters. Kerala Blasters headed to the second half with a 2-0 lead over Bengaluru. 

However, things did not go as planned for Kerala as Bengaluru started attacking with more intensity and that resulted in a goal in the 69th minute. Udanta Singh headed the ball into the net to pull one back for Bengaluru. After many wasted scoring opportunities for both teams, Bengaluru FC finally completed their comeback as captain Sunil Chhetri scored the equalizer in the 85th minute. 

ISL 2020-21 | Bengaluru 4-2 Kerala Blasters

This league match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on 13 December 2020 was the first face-off between these two teams in the 2020-21 season. 

It was Kerala who opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Rahul KP sent the ball inside from a solo run by Gary Hooper in a counter-attack. Cleiton Silva equalized for Bengaluru from a defensive error by Kerala in the 29th minute. Both teams were level at half-time.

Only 3 minutes into the second half, captain Sunil Chhetri's penalty kick was saved by Albino Gomes. However, it did not make much difference as The Blues scored two goals in 4 minutes. Erik Paartalu scored in the 51st minute to give Bengaluru the coveted lead. Following that, Dimas Delgado scored in the 53rd minute to give Bengaluru a 2-goal lead over Kerala.

Jordan Murray pulled one back for Kerala in the 61st minute and created pressure on Bengaluru. But in the 65 minute, Sunil Chhetri redeemed himself after the penalty miss by scoring Bengaluru's fourth of the game. 

ISL 2020-21 | Kerala Blasters 2-1 Bengaluru 

On 20 January 2021 at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Kerala Blasters took revenge for their defeat at Fatorda in the ISL 2020-21.

Both teams had a firey start right from the first minute of the game but Bengaluru's Cleiton Silva drew the first blood in the 23rd minute from a great half-volley. Kerala did not hold back as they continued to attack but all remained unfruitful and they headed to the break trailing by 0-1. 

However, after a series of attacks and counter-attacks, Khawlhring gave Blasters the equalizer in the 73rd minute. This goal gave Kerala a lifeline and they kept on attacking. Everything paid off for Kerala in the 4th minute of the stoppage time when Rahul KP slotted the ball inside from a nearly-unexpected counter-attack and Kerala won the game by 2-1. 

ISL 2022-23 Play-off | Bengaluru 1-0 Kerala Blasters

This is the match that created the most controversy in a BFC vs KBFC encounter. 4th-placed Bengaluru FC met 5th-placed Kerala Blasters FC in the one-off play-off in the 2022-23 ISL on March 3, 2023, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. 

The 90 minutes of the game remained goalless as the two teams headed into the Added Extra Time of play in search of a final result. However, in the 5th minute of the added extra time, Blasters defender Vibin Mohanan fouled Sunil Chhetri just outside the penalty box, resulting in a free-kick for Bengaluru. Sunil Chhetri took the free-kick quickly when the Blasters players were forming the wall. The ball found its way into an unguarded net.

The referee allowed the goal because he was aware that Chhetri was about to take the shot and had signaled for the play to continue. In response, the Blasters players unexpectedly protested by leaving the pitch midway through the game.

Kerala coach Ivan Vukomanovic was also seen calling off his players as a form of protest. Later, The Blasters also lodged an official complaint against the referee of the match, Crystal John. However, The win was awarded to Bengaluru and they entered the semi-final of the 2022-23 ISL.

Durand Cup 2024 | Bengaluru 1-0 Kerala Blasters

The latest encounter between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters happened in the Durand Cup 2024 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 23 August 2024. It was another thrilling encounter between these two teams as Bengaluru emerged victorious to progress to the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament. 

Kerala Blasters' keeper Som Kumar was taken off early in the 4th minute due to an injury. Both teams had many close chances but none could break the dead-lock. The half-time score was 0-0 and the teams headed into the second half. Both the teams kept pushing but the 90 minutes could not separate the two sides. But in the very last second of 4 minutes of the injury time, Bengaluru's forward Jorge Pereyra Diaz slotted the ball into Kerala's net to surprisingly snatch the match from them. 

On a vibrant Saturday evening, April 26, 2025, Mohun Bagan SG’s youthful squad clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 quarter-finals, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

The Mariners, boasting an all-Indian lineup save for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, showcased their attacking flair with goals from Sahal Abdul Samad in the 22nd minute and Suhail Ahmad Bhat in the 51st. Despite a late strike from Kerala Blasters’ Sreekuttan MS in the 94th minute, Mohun Bagan SG held firm, thanks to a stellar performance by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. Bastab Roy’s team now awaits the winner of the FC Goa vs. Punjab FC clash in the semi-final on April 30.

The match kicked off cautiously, with both sides probing without overcommitting. For the first 20 minutes, neither team managed to create clear chances. Then, Mohun Bagan SG sparked the game to life with a moment of brilliance.

Salahudheen Adnan dazzled down the right, weaving past Naocha Singh before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box. Sahal Abdul Samad, with a deft shoulder drop, shook off Ruivah Hormipam and delicately lifted the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to break the deadlock.

The goal jolted Kerala Blasters into action, and they pushed hard for an equaliser. Noah Sadaoui, fresh off a spectacular long-range goal against East Bengal, tried his luck from distance but sent the ball straight to Dheeraj Singh.

Read Also | India expresses formal interest to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031

The Blasters grew threatening from set pieces, particularly short corners. In the 30th minute, Sadaoui’s low cross after a quick one-two with Vibin Mohanan was cleared by Dippendu Biswas. Moments later, Hormipam’s looping cross nearly sneaked into the top corner, only for Dheeraj to tip it over.

Just before halftime, Mohammed Aimen cut in from the left and unleashed a curling shot that sailed narrowly over the bar, leaving the Blasters frustrated.

The second half began with Mohun Bagan SG striking early. In the 47th minute, Sachin Suresh pulled off a stunning save to deny Salahudheen in a one-on-one, but the warning went unheeded. Four minutes later, Ashique Kuruniyan tore down the left, breezed past Hormipam, and rolled a precise pass to Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who calmly slotted it home to double the lead.

From there, the game became the Dheeraj Singh show. Kerala Blasters threw everything forward, but the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper stood tall. Jesús Jiménez squandered two golden opportunities, blasting over the bar in the 65th minute and dragging a shot wide two minutes later. In the 70th minute, Dheeraj denied substitute Kwame Peprah’s angled effort, and with five minutes left, Peprah’s low cross found Jiménez, who couldn’t connect cleanly.

Read Also | Will Indian-Origin players ever get to play for India? AIFF keeps showing its aimless approach

Dheeraj’s heroics continued as he thwarted Peprah from point-blank range, with Amandeep clearing Ebindas Y’s follow-up off the line. The Blasters finally broke through in stoppage time when Jiménez set up Sreekuttan, who rifled a shot past Dheeraj. But the goal came too late to spark a comeback.

Salahudheen Adnan earned the Kalinga Player of the Match award for his electrifying performance.

Kerala Blasters FC started their Kalinga Super Cup 2025 on a high note by knocking out defending champions East Bengal by 2-0 in Bhubaneshwar on Sunday. Noah Sadaoui and Jesús Jiménez scored the goals for the Kerala Blasters as they outplayed the Kolkata side. 

With this defeat, East Bengal FC's season ended on a sad note after an overwhelming finish in the Indian Super League 2024-25. 

Kerala Blasters march on! 💥⚽

A dominant 2-0 win over East Bengal seals their spot in the Super 8. Next stop: a high-voltage clash against Mohun Bagan!#KBFC #BlastersOnTheRise #Super8Bound #keralablasters #SuperCup #mohunbagan #EastBengal #Indianfootball #Footballindia pic.twitter.com/ISfwWWWKly

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 20, 2025

Jesús Jiménez opened the scoring for Kerala as he found the back of the net from a penalty in the 40th minute of the match. In the second half, Noah Sadaoui extended the lead for the Manjapadas in the 64th minute to hand them an easy win. 

Blasters looked threatening from the word go as Jesus nearly scored from Noah's delivery in the second minute of the game. They kept on applying the pressure, but could not find the end result despite a few chances created by Noah. 

Noah Sadaoui's banger from outside the box in Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal FC match in Kalinga Super Cup 2025. pic.twitter.com/uWjrbpLMDZ

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 20, 2025

But it wasn't until the 40th minute that Jesus Jimenez stepped up to take the penalty after Gill made a foul inside the box. 

In the 64th minute, Noah scored a screamer of a goal to extend the lead, which was eventually good enough for them to qualify for the quarter-finals. 

Kerala Blasters will now face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the quarter-final on 26th April. For those who do not know, Mohun Bagan SG will play from the quarter-final directly after they received a bye in the round of 16. 

"Today, the team showed me that they still have something inside, and they wanted to compete and do their best. I’m proud of them cuz the work they’ve done is amazing. We’ll have to see about Luna. He felt that it wasn’t good and asked for a change. We’ll see," Balsters' coach David Catala said after the win. 

The Kalinga Super Cup 2025 has undergone significant schedule adjustments following the withdrawal of Churchill Brothers FC Goa. The Round of 16 match against Mohun Bagan SG, originally set for an 8 PM IST kick-off on April 20, has been cancelled.

As a result, Mohun Bagan SG will advance directly with a bye.

Mohun Bagan SG, who recently clinched both the ISL 2024-25 Shield and Cup, will now face the winners of the rescheduled Round of 16 match between Kerala Blasters FC and East Bengal FC in the quarter-finals on April 26.

The Kerala Blasters FC vs. East Bengal FC clash has been moved to an 8 PM IST kick-off on April 20, 2025, ensuring the tournament progresses smoothly despite the unexpected withdrawal.

Here is the new schedule of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025

Here are the updated fixtures of the #KalingaSuperCup 🗓️#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/TsAIFUKvEP

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) April 18, 2025

Mohun Bagan Super Giant came back from trailing to beat Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League 2024-25 Final. 

The Blues took the lead in the 49th minute of the game through an own goal from the Mariners. However, the 2024-25 ISL League Shield Winners turned the tables around in the 72nd minute when they pulled off the equalizer from the spotkick.

In the added extra time, Mohun Bagan SG netted the winner in the 96th minute to ensure their historic league double: winning the shield and the cup in the same season!

Read Also | Mohun Bagan SG vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2024-25 Final Highlights | Mohun Bagan complete the league double, wins the ISL Cup coming from behind | FT MBSG 2-1 BFC

So, it's time we look at the ISL winners' List since 2014.

Read Also: Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC ISL 2023-24 Final Highlights | Mumbai win the ISL 2023-24 beating Mohun Bagan by 3-1

Who won the first ISL title?

In the inaugural season, ATK, formerly known as Atlético de Kolkata, were crowned the winner as they defeated Kerala Blasters 1-0 in the final. Mohammed Rafique scored an injury-time goal to win the game for his side under head coach Antonio Lopez Habas. The 2014 season featured eight teams, each playing 14 matches during the regular season.

Who have won the most ISL titles?

ATK have been the most dominant team, having secured the title three times. They were dissolved and merged with Mohun Bagan SG (ATK Mohun Bagan previously), who have won the title twice, in the 2024-25 and in the 2022-23 season. 

Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC are the teams who have lifted the titles twice. Hyderabad FC and Bengaluru FC have also won one title each.

Read Also: ISL 2023-24: Top Goal Scorers List

ISL Winners List since 2014

Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's coverage of the Indian Super League 2024-25 Final.

Tonight, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the ultimate showdown between Mohun Bagan SG and Bengaluru FC at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. 

Mohun Bagan SG will leave no stone unturned to complete the 'league double' by lifting the ISL Cup after clinching the ISL 2024-25 League Shield, whereas Bengaluru FC will look to avenge their defeat in the 2022-23 season's final to the same opponents and win the Cup.

Read Also | Mohun Bagan SG vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2024-25 Final Match Preview: Head-to-head Stats, Previous Records

As the intense drama is all set to unfold tonight for the last time this season, just sit back and enjoy the match as we provide you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary.

This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.

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