Kerala Blasters, so far, has been all about Sachin Tendulkar, with the Indian Super League team's co-owner grabbing all the attention. Such is the power and influence of the little master, that the fact that Tendulkar owns the ISL team has overshadowed the on-field activities of the Kerala Blasters.
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Watch the Highlights of the Match HERE
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The second game of the ISL is scheduled for a 7 pm IST (9.30 am ET, 2.30 pm BST) start with live coverage in India provided by Star Sports 2, Star Sports HD2, Star Sports 3, Star Gold, Asianet Movies, Suvarna Plus and Jalsha Movies.
Viewers in India can also tune into the match by live streaming it online for free on Starsports.com.
US viewers can catch the NorthEast United FC vs Kerala Blasters game on Foxsoccer2go.
On Monday, the Kerala Blasters, led by former England and Liverpool goalkeeper David James, will have the chance to let their boots do the talking as they visit NorthEast United FC in the second match of the Indian Super League.
The ISL got off to a cracker of an opening with Atletico de Kolkata easing past Mumbai City FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday, and NorthEast United FC and Kerala Blasters FC will both be keen to put on a good show for the fans at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati.
Such is the passion for football in this region that a packed, and then some, house is expected, with NorthEast United, no doubt, banking on that home support to see them through against the Kerala Blasters.
NorthEast United are filled with several players from the region – including players from Shillong Lajong, who are co-owners -- and every single one of them will be keen to make an impression. NEUFC are not a team filled with glittering stars, like some of the ISL teams, but they do have an assured player at the back in the mould of World Cup winner Joan Capdevilla.
NorthEast United's marquee player will be key to his team's fortunes, and much will depend on how he marshals the defence, even if he will continue playing at his preferred fullback position.
Kerala Blasters are also not a team overflowing with world-renown players, with James being their most famous. The player/manager is expected to take the field for his team's opener, with Trevor Morgan, a seasoned campaigned in Indian football, more than capable of doing what needs to be done on the sideline.
A lot of the Indian players in this Kerala Blasters side are former East Bengal players, who played under Morgan during his time as the Kolkata club's manager. Morgan also has a familiar foreigner in Penn Orji, who, when on song, can light up the ISL.
The midfielder will be vital as the Kerala Blasters look to find holes in the NorthEast United FC backline, with the likes of Michael Chopra, Iain Hume and Andrew Barisic all capable of finding the back of the net with consistency.
The first match of the ISL showed the importance of having cohesiveness in your side, especially going forward, and the team that functions better as a team on Monday will open their campaign with a victory.
