AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: As the 2024-25 I-League enters its ninth round of matches on Friday, January 17, 2025, the watchword is “consistency”. Despite eight rounds of competitive action, the points table remains tightly contested, with just five points separating the top six teams. This closely-fought scenario sets the stage for another exciting round as teams strive for form and position.
League leaders Churchill Brothers, with 16 points, will aim to strengthen their position at the top. They travel to the Mahilpur Stadium to face 10th-placed Delhi FC. Following their huge 6-0 victory over Aizawl FC and Inter Kashi’s defeat to Namdhari, Churchill Brothers have regained top spot and are determined to continue their winning momentum. However, Delhi FC, keen to rebound from two winless games, promise to make it a challenging encounter for the visitors.
Namdhari FC, sitting just two points behind Churchill in second place, will also look to extend their five-match unbeaten streak, a run that has bolstered their campaign. They will, however, face a stern test against fourth-placed Gokulam Kerala FC away from home. The Malabarians themselves have not lost and conceded a goal in their last four outings and will aim to thwart Namdhari’s charge by putting up another strong defensive performance and a fluent attacking display on Friday at the EMS Stadium.
Third-placed Inter Kashi, on the other hand, have been grappling with inconsistency despite boasting talented players on their roster. They will aim to return to winning ways against Aizawl FC on Saturday, January 18. Aizawl FC, without a win since November and in 11th place, find themselves in dire straits, making this matchup critical for both sides. A victory could also propel Inter Kashi to the top of the table, depending on other results.
Meanwhile, Shillong Lajong, currently positioned fifth after a thumping 5-0 win over SC Bengaluru, will visit Sreenidi Deccan’s home turf on Saturday. The Deccan Warriors sit in ninth spot despite a strong attacking output in recent games. What has been plaguing Sreenidi Deccan is their defensive frailties. So they would definitely want to plug holes in their defence when they face Lajong, who will look to exploit these vulnerabilities to improve their standings.
Elsewhere, Real Kashmir will aim to break a winless streak of four matches as they go up against bottom-placed SC Bengaluru in Srinagar. Their intent will be clear: end this slump and earn their third win of the season. Simultaneously, seventh-placed Dempo SC, after three consecutive defeats, face an imperative match against sixth-placed Rajasthan United FC. The former champions need to regain their early-season form to halt their slide and climb back up the points ladder. Rajasthan United, on the other hand, are on a four-game unbeaten run and have lifted themselves to sixth place and within five points of the leaders.
