After earning the first victory after eight matches, Bengaluru will look to continue this run when they will face Chennai in Indian Football League 2020-21.
Match Timings: Feb 05, 7:30 PM IST
Team Preview
Bengaluru finally ended its winless streak in the previous match and earned three important points against Bengal. With this win, the Blues have kept them alive in the playoffs race. It was pure domination from Bengaluru as Bengal finished with zero shots on target. Blues took the lead in the 12th minute and Cleiton Silva scored his fifth goal of the season. Chhetri headed down Gurpreet’s long kick and Silva took a touch and sent the ball into the net. Udanta Singh also tried a shot but it went wide of the target. Before the first half break, Blues doubled the lead. Parag Srivas took Leon’s place on the left-wing and Right-back Rahul Bheke powered a cross for Parag. The ball touched Debjit Majumder’s leg and went into the net.
After a poor first half, Bengal did some changes in the second half but the spark was missing. Sunil Chhetri almost got a goal but his shot struck the woodwork and allowed Debjit Majumder to save it. Bengaluru desperately needed this win and It was their second win with a clean-sheet. They had previously lost to Bengal in the first-leg game with the same margin. Blues now have 18 points from 15 matches and with 5 matches in hand, Blues have to look for wins. Their goal difference is zero with conceding and netting the same number of goals (19). Blues can have an early advantage as they are coming off a win and they have beaten Chennai in the first-leg game.
Meanwhile, Chennai will play its first fixture in February and they had another disappointing month in January. Chennai’s last victory came on January 13 against Odisha and they are winless in the last four games. From the last ten matches, they have won just two matches and lost three. In a previous outing, Hyderabad made a league double over Chennai with another compelling victory. In the 28th minute, Hyderabad took the lead through Fran Sanadaza’s goal. Colaco delivered a pass to Joao Victor in midfield. The Brazilian sent the ball to Sandaza, and he went past Tangri and got the better of Kaith.
Chennai had more possession in the first half but they couldn’t trouble Laxmikant Kattimani. In the early second half, center-back Eli Sabia came close with Isma to strike but his shot whacked the crossbar. Substitute Fatkhullo also hit the bar when he got the low ball across from Chhangte. Hyderabad sealed the game with another goal in the 83rd minute. Joao Victor provided the second assist of the season and the Chianese gave a fine finishing from the far corner. Chennai and Bengaluru separate each other by two points. Marine Machans desperately need a win to stay alive in the playoffs contention. They are six points behind to 4th placed Hyderabad and anything can change in the next few weeks.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Bengaluru
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke, Pratik Chaudhari, Ajith Kumar, Francisco Gonzalez, Harmanjot Khabra, Cleiton Silva, Suresh Wangjam, Udanta Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Leon Augustin
Current Form: W D D L D
Previous Match: 2-0 victory against Bengal
Chennai
Vishal Kaith, Reagan Singh, Eli Sabia, Memo, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Deepak Tangri, Germanpreet Singh, Thoi Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Isma, Rahim Ali
Current Form: L D L D W
Previous Match: 2-0 defeat to Hyderabad
Key Players
Bengaluru
Cleiton Silva
5 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Sunil Chhetri
5 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Chennai
Esmael Goncalves
4 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Rahim Ali
2 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
