New Delhi: Punjab FC will look to maintain their winning momentum in the Indian Super League 2025-26 season as they face Mohammedan Sporting Club side at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday, April 3, 2026. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 19:30 IST.
The match will be streamed live on FanCode and telecast on Sony Sports TEN 2. Punjab FC have extended their impressive run, putting together a four-match unbeaten streak to climb to fifth in the standings with eight points from five matches.
The Shers arrive on the back of a commanding 3-1 away victory over Kerala Blasters FC, where a lethal first-half blitz saw Samir Zeljković, Bede Osuji, and Dani Ramírez all find the back of the net inside the opening 38 minutes.
Despite serving a multi-match suspension for top scorer Nsungusi Jr. Effiong, Panagiotis Dilmperis's side seamlessly adapted, proving their attacking depth as Osuji stepped up flawlessly to lead the line.
Conversely, Mohammedan SC arrive in the capital in desperate need of a turnaround. The Black and White Brigade, fielding an all-Indian squad, remain at the bottom of the table without a point after five matches.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo’s men are coming off a devastating 0-7 defeat in the derby against East Bengal FC, the joint-largest margin of defeat in ISL history. The heavy loss was further compounded by a red card to right-back Joseph Lalmuanawma, who will be suspended for this crucial away trip.
As the two most recent I-League champions to secure promotion to the Indian Super League Punjab FC in 2023 and Mohammedan SC in 2024, Punjab FC have always had the upper hand in this fixture. Punjab FC are unbeaten against the team from Kolkata with three wins and three draws in the I-League and one win and one draw in the ISL.
In the most recent encounter in the AIFF Super Cup group stage, Punjab FC beat Mohammedan SC 3-0 with Ninthoinganba Meetei, Samir Zeljković and Manglenthang Kipgen scoring the goals.
Speaking ahead of their home fixture, Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis expressed confidence in his squad's recent performances while acknowledging the task ahead. "Mohammedan is not a bad team. They're struggling to take results. They try to play something that is modern football, better than other teams that have points in the standings," he noted. "And the last result against East Bengal might be a trap for us if we believe that it's an easy game. It's really a trap, meaning that we should stay humble. There's no easy wins."
Despite their unbeaten run, the coach admitted he is demanding more consistency in their outcomes. "I'm approaching these questions two ways. The first way is the performance that I'm super satisfied because in all these games, we were the best team in the field," he explained. "But on the other pathway, we didn't take the results that we deserve to take. So I'm not satisfied with the results."
Midfielder Ricky Shabong echoed the coach’s comments on losing points. He also shed light on the positive atmosphere in the Punjab FC camp, noting how the recent victory over Kerala Blasters has lifted spirits after a string of stalemates. "The mood is good after the last match, after we won against Kerala. Because before that, we were drawing and we were not happy," Shabong shared. "And now we are more focused because of the last match. And we are really motivated for tomorrow's games."
For Mohammedan SC, the objective is to channel their backs-against-the-wall situation into a fighting away performance and erase the nightmare of the derby.
Head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo highlighted the squad's resilient mindset and determination to bounce back. “Our target right now is just the next match. It is very difficult and challenging given the current situation, but the good thing is the players don’t give up,” Wadoo explained.
Emphasising the stakes of the fixture, he added, “If we want to stay alive in this league, we have to fight; there is no other way. The players will fight for the club, for the fans, for pride, and for their families.”
Mohammedan SC midfielder Mahitosh Roy echoed his coach's forward-looking approach, refusing to dwell on recent setbacks. “We aren't thinking about the previous five matches because those matches are over and we can’t get them back,” Roy stated. “We are focusing on the upcoming eight matches. Our next match is against Punjab, and we are heavily focused on that.”
With Punjab FC aiming to solidify their position in the top half and Mohammedan SC fighting desperately to ignite their top-flight survival bid after a historic setback, the Friday night clash in New Delhi promises to be a fiercely contested battle.
