Calicut FC vs Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, Kerala Super League 2026, Today Match Prediction
Calicut FC
Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC
Dominant Calicut Face Ian Gillan’s Rebuilt Kombans
- Calicut won seven matches and scored 21 goals to comfortably top the group stage last season.
- Calicut suffered only one defeat throughout the entire group stage before falling in the semi-finals last season.
- Kombans finished second from bottom after managing just three wins and scoring the league's second-fewest goals.
Calicut FC to win (2-1)
| Tournament: | Kerala Super League 2026 |
| Venue: | EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut |
Calicut FC vs Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC Match Prediction & Analysis
Match two of the Super League Kerala (SLK) 2026 sees former champions Calicut FC host Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC. Calicut will look to replicate their strong group-stage showing from last season while going one step further in the knockouts and reclaiming the title.
Kombans, meanwhile, will be aiming to improve their group-stage campaign and return to the knockout rounds, while also looking to turn around their poor record against Calicut.
Head-to-head Record: Calicut have been the dominant side of the two, winning four of the five matches with one draw.
Teams Preview
Calicut FC Preview
As Calicut FC step onto the pitch for their opening match, they do so with heavy hearts and a profound sense of purpose. The upcoming fixture is shadowed by tragedy following the heartbreaking loss of Rijohn Jose—a cornerstone of the squad in the title winning season—who passed away on September 21. Nicknamed as the ‘Interceptor’ Last season he was part of the Forca Kochi side.
On the squad front, Calicut have brought in several new faces, with Maximo Garcia, Manuel Augustin Villalobos and Debanath Mondal among the latest additions, alongside foreign signings like Maximiliano Urruti, Federico Boasso, Alexis Sosa, with couple of local talents with domestic league experience.
Among them, Calwin Thomas could be one to watch after being named the KFA’s Best U20 Player last season. There is continuity in the dugout, with Ever Demaldé set to begin his second season in charge.
Calicut were the standout team in last season’s group stage, topping the table with seven wins, 21 goals and just one defeat. However, their campaign ended in the semi-finals with a narrow 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Kannur Warriors. This time, the challenge is clear: reproduce their group-stage excellence and finally clear the knockout hurdle.
Calicut FC Probable XI - Mirshad Michu (GK) ; Tluangpuia, Alexis Sosa, Mohammed Jasim, Henry Joseph, Emil Benny, Federico Boasso, Máximo García, Prasanth K, Gani Nigam, Maximiliano Urruti
Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC Preview
Kombans will enter the new Super League Kerala season determined to make amends for a disappointing campaign last year, when they finished second from bottom and missed out on the semi-finals by just a point.
Their three wins offered little respite, with two coming against the bottom side and the other against Kannur Warriors. Their biggest weakness was in attack, as they ranked at the bottom across several attacking metrics and scored the second-fewest goals in the group stage.
With little known about their new signings, the major change has come on the touchline. Ian Andrew Gillan takes charge, replacing James McAloon, who had guided the side for the previous two seasons. Whether the new coach can breathe life into a struggling attack will be one of the key questions surrounding Kombans this season.
Thiruvananthapuram Kombans Probable XI - Aaryan Anjaneya (GK); Abdul Badish, Salam Ranjan Singh, José Luís Moreno, Viknesh M, Patrick Silva Mota, Ragav Gupta, Paulo Cesar, Ronald Makalysten, Kalid Roshan, Kiataluva Tadeu
CALICUT FC vs THIRUVANANTHAPURAM KOMBANS FC
Winning PredictionCalicut FC will be keen to avoid another slow start after picking up just one win from their opening three games last season, alongside a draw and a defeat. They were a strong force at home throughout the campaign, despite the semi-final setback against Kannur Warriors, and will look to turn their home ground into a fortress again. While two of Kombans’ three wins last season came on the road, their poor overall record against Calicut gives the hosts the edge here.
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