Two years after facing the heartbreak of missing out on a title, Kerala Blasters will go all out with a partisan crowd behind them for their maiden Indian Super League title against former champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) in a replay of the summit clash during the first edition in 2014.
While they would have little do with on-field action but it will yet again be a prestige fight between the franchises co-owned by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
Kerala, who have been in tremendous form during the business end of the league, after a scrappy start, had lost to ATK by a solitary goal in the final in 2014.
Now, with a capacity crowd of 55,000 expected to turn up at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kochi, Steve Coppell's side are brimming with confidence and they have the reason to do so having won six out of the seven matches that they have played at this venue.
The venue has been like a fortress for the Kerala side though interestingly it is only the ATK, who have beaten Coppell's side at home and the visiting side have every reason to believe that they can beat the home team in the final.
ATK, on the other hand, would be looking to become the first side to lift the title for the second time after the inaugural edition.
They have already become the most successful side in the ISL having made it to the last-four in all the three editions and it will be their second final appearance on Sunday.
Kerala, who finished last in the second edition last year, have had to struggle more than ATK in their way to the semi-finals and then to the final. They began on a scrappy note this season and they were at the bottom half in the first phase of the league with just nine points from seven matches.
They picked up steam in the second part of the league but had to be the last side to book a play-offs berth and that came at their home venue. They beat Delhi Dynamos in the first leg of the semi-finals at Kochi but lost the second leg before making it to the final via penalty shoot-outs.
Kolkata were the second team to qualify for the semifinals but they were the side which had the least number of wins in the league phase.
They beat league phase toppers Mumbai at home before holding the same opponents to a goal-less draw away while playing with 10 men the whole of the second half to make it to summit clash.
ATK defender Arnab Mondal is ruled out of the final having undergone a surgery while the rest of the players are available for selection.
For Kerala, there are no injury issues and all the players are available for Sunday's match.
(With inputs from PTI)
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