Punjab FC will begin their 2026-27 Indian Super League campaign against Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. The opening round has already produced a couple of surprises, with Churchill Brothers defeating Mumbai City FC 2-1 and NorthEast United FC edging Mohun Bagan Super Giant 1-0. Punjab finished sixth in last season’s shortened competition and will look to build on that performance after an extended pre-season that included eight matches and a run to the IFA Shield semi-finals. Head coach Pavlos Dermitzakis has focused on developing an attacking style while maintaining defensive balance, with new signings such as Raphael Messi Bouli, Alfred Planas, Diego Raposo and Mickaël Malsa expected to strengthen the squad.
Odisha FC, meanwhile, face a challenging start after going into the new season without playing any pre-season exposure matches. Head coach T.G. Purushothaman has acknowledged the lack of match practice, making it important for his players to settle quickly against a well-prepared Punjab side. Captain Lalthathanga Khawlhring will have a key role to play following the departures of Carlos Delgado and Amrinder Singh, while Rahul KP is set to miss the opening two matches as a precaution after a minor injury. With Punjab carrying stronger pre-season momentum and Odisha aiming to find their rhythm, the opening encounter promises an intriguing test for both teams.
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