Bangalore: Bengaluru FC will be looking to continue their unbeaten run at home as they take on East Bengal Club in the Round 15 encounter of the Airtel I-League at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Sunday.
Bengaluru FC, who lead the points table with 27 points from 13 matches will be hoping to extend their lead with a win against the Kolkata giants, who have 15 points from 10 matches and are presently in the seventh position.
Though the hosts will start the game as the favourite, they will be wary of the fact that East Bengal is one of the two teams, who have beaten Bengaluru FC in this year’s I-League.
The visitors had got the better of the Bangalore outifit 2-0, when they had met in their first leg encounter at Kalyani in West Bengal. However, both camps agree that at Kalyani, East Bengal had the advantage of soggy and heavy ground conditions and also the fact that it was Bengaluru FC’s first away game of the tournament.
Sunday will be a new day and Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood is confident of keeping the momentum going for his team. “We have won the last four matches and I am happy that everyone has been contributing well, I am confident that we will keep the same going on Sunday as well,” he said.
“But at the same time, I will admit that this match will be one of the toughest matches for us as East Bengal are the strongest team on paper. And with their new manager in place, they have also done well, so it will be a tough game,” pointed out Westwood.
Though the team is looking forward to pocketing full points, Bengaluru’s English coach maintained that they are not looking at the game as a revenge match. “It is not a case of revenge. We have remained unbeaten at home and have always tried to pick up full points infront of the home crowd. Even on Sunday, we will try and do the same,” said Westwood.
However, there could be some concern for Westwood in defence as John Johnson, who has stood like a rock in defence will not be able to play against East Bengal as he has picked up four yellow cards in the league.
But upfront, Sunil Chhetri and Sean Rooney are in great form and are capable of destroying any team’s defence.
On the other hand, the visitors look a depleted side with their key members down with injury. Uga Opara, Mehtab Hussain and Joaquim Abranches are not available due to injury. However, coach Armando Colaco is hopeful that the rest of the players will be able to deliver the goods.
“I have always maintained that football is a team game. You cannot depend on just a few individuals and win matches. It’s a team work and I am confident that against Bengaluru FC, the team will perform well,” said Colaco.
“I have just told the players to go out there and enjoy the game. I know Bengaluru FC is a strong team, but we are going to give a tough fight on the ground,” he added.
Colaco pointed out that no team can be taken for granted in this season’s I-League. “No team is strong or weak in this league. It is because the quality players are spread evenly amongst all the team.
On a given day, any team can get full three points. I think this is the most competitive I-League,” said Colaco.
