Bhubaneswar/Mumbai, Saturday, February 28, 2026: Odisha FC will tackle Chennaiyin FC as either side purpose to safe an important victory of their Indian Super League 2025-26 encounter on Sunday, March 1, on the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The match is scheduled to kick off at 17:00 IST.
The second match of the day sees Mumbai City FC host NorthEast United FC in an intriguing conflict on the Mumbai Football Arena, with the kickoff slated for 19:30 IST on Sunday.
Both matches shall be streamed stay on FanCode and telecast on Sony Sports Ten 2.
Odisha FC vs Chennaiyin FC
Odisha FC head into the fixture seeking to capitalise on their passionate residence benefit. After being held to a goalless draw towards debutants Inter Kashi FC of their season opener, the Juggernauts shall be keen to search out their scientific edge and open their goalscoring account in Bhubaneswar.
With Odisha at present sitting on one level after a good defensive show anchored by goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, they know the significance of turning their residence floor right into a fortress early within the season.
Odisha FC head coach, T.G Purushottaman emphasised his workforce’s give attention to the need of sustaining their depth and discovering their of completion. “We created several chances in our first game but lacked the final touch. “It doesn’t matter if the opponents have won or lost. What matters is how we manage space – how we create it, how we deny it, and how we press. Consistency is what we’re building.”
Odisha FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh stated, “After just three days of training together, to keep a clean sheet shows the character of this team. As a goalkeeper and captain, I stay calm because the rest look at me. If I show pressure, they lose confidence. Defence can be organised quickly, but attack needs time. Now we’ve had more sessions, and we’re ready to improve going forward.”
Chennaiyin FC, in the meantime, arrive in Bhubaneswar aiming to bounce again from a troublesome begin to their marketing campaign. Clifford Miranda’s males are trying to find their first factors and first purpose of the season after struggling back-to-back defeats. In their latest 0-2 loss to defending champions Mohun Bagan SG, the place they conceded objectives to Jamie Maclaren and Dimitrios Petratos, the Marina Machans struggled offensively and did not register a single shot heading in the right direction.
Currently languishing in eleventh place within the factors desk, the guests will purpose to hold higher defensive organisation and sharper counter-attacks towards their opponents to show their fortunes round.
Acknowledging the house help of the Odisha followers on the Kalinga Stadium, and the necessity to convert resilience into precise factors, Chennaiyin FC head coach Clifford Miranda views the stress as a significant developmental device for his facet.
“We have faced two very tough opponents in our first two games, and we need a bit of time to cope with the pressure and intensity of our new system. The team are constantly evolving and improving. It has only been two matches. We must remain positive, stick together, and be at our very best to compete and try to secure a positive result against Odisha,” said Miranda.
Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Samik Mitra said, “The morale inside our dressing room is still high despite the results. We want to win the next game and climb the points table. Against Mohun Bagan, we defended well for large parts but were punished for small margins. We need to stick to the plan as a team and the results will follow.”
Odisha FC will look to control and dictate the tempo in front of their home fans, while Chennaiyin FC aim to stay compact and capitalise on transitions. With three important points to be won, the match promises to be an interesting contest.
Mumbai City FC vs NorthEast United FC
Mumbai City FC will look to extend their dominant run as they face NorthEast United FC in a highly anticipated Sunday evening clash. The Islanders have started the season brilliantly, currently sitting at third in the points table with six points from two matches. They enter the match on the back of a clinical 1-0 victory over Kerala Blasters FC, propelled by a decisive 48th-minute strike from Lallianzuala Chhangte, and sharp near-post saves from Phurba Lachenpa. They will be eager to secure their third consecutive win and clean sheet.
Reflecting on his team’s form and the importance of maintaining momentum, Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Krátký stressed the importance of maintaining the intensity. “If we think it will be an easy game, we are not going to win, for sure. We need maximum respect for the opponents because in football, anything may happen. On paper, maybe we are in better form, but on the pitch we must prove it. If we are not at 100 per cent, if we have overconfidence, we may have problems. It is important to give everything with the right approach and show that we are better during the 90 minutes.”
Mumbai City FC winger Lallianzuala Chhangte said, “I came into this season to be successful as a team first. I know the goals will come because I work hard every day and my confidence is high after scoring in Kochi. Winning individual awards would be special, but my ambition is to win trophies with this team. We want to keep this winning streak going for our fans.”
NorthEast United FC will head into the match searching for their first win of the campaign after a mixed start. They arrive following a 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC, where they impressively matched the hosts in possession and attempts. After falling behind to an early 20th-minute Braian Sánchez strike, substitute Lalrinzuala scored a brilliant 68th-minute equaliser with a composed finish over Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Highlanders showed great character and will be desperate to build on that momentum against the Islanders.
Speaking about the performances in the last two encounters, NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali said, “Yes, we faced challenges in our opening defeat, but the reaction against Bengaluru was fantastic. There is no excuse in football. We have a young squad and we believe in them. These players have shown incredible professionalism. We will not give up, we will fight in every match, and we are confident that with hard work and unity, this team will continue to improve and compete against a top side like Mumbai.”
NorthEast United ahead Lalrinzuala stated, “Getting my goal in the last game was a huge boost for me, but when we step onto the pitch against Mumbai, the only thing that matters is the team result. For those 90 minutes, it’s about pride, emotion, and giving everything for the badge. We know Mumbai City are a strong side in good form, but we are motivated to improve every game, stay focused on our plan, and put in a performance that reflects our character.”
