The fourth season of Indian Super League (ISL) will kick off on Friday with the opening match between two-time champions and current holders ATK and runner-up Kerala Blasters here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The first match of the league will be a battle of one of the strongest home sides against one of the finest away sides.
The blasters won six home matches in a row last season, while ATK won four games on the road.
Kerala have had trouble in their fortress only against ATK―the only team to beat them in Kochi last year in what was a memorable season.
Altogether, 95 matches between 10 teams will be played this season.
Two news teams, Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC, have also been added in the league.
The ISL league, which will stretch for almost four months, will conclude on March 17, with the final being slated to be played at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
