Bengaluru will resume its 2021 campaign against the league-leaders, Mumbai, in Indian Football League on Tuesday night. The Blues suffered two straight defeats to lose the playoff position, while Mumbai would strengthen its position on top with another new year win.
Match Timings: Jan 05, 7:30 PM IST
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The Blues will continue its campaign after the New Year break, and they would try to avoid three losses in a row. Before Christmas, Bengaluru were in the top four, but they lost two games against the Mariners and Jamshedpur. In a previous encounter in Fatorda, Blues conceded the clean sheet for the third time. The match started with a quick attack, and Kristian Opseth created a free-kick opportunity in the 3rd minute. Blues could have gone 1-0 in teh first half when Suresh Wangjam set up Cleiton Silva for a shot, but TP Rehenesh blocked it. Sunil Chhetri got his shot wide when Suresh Wangjam came up with a fine pass.
The second half went to the Red Miners, and they kept their defense tight. Dimas Delgado and Cleiton Silva set up some chances, but Peter Hartley was in charge who avoided any blow. Blues also called Fran Gonzalez, Deshorn Brown, and Leon Augustine as the substitutes, but they failed to break Jamshedpur's backline. After the second cooling break, Eze got better of Sandhu through a good pass from Aniket Jadhav, and Blues dropped one more game. Bengaluru could have ended this game in a draw, but Rehenesh produced another save to dismiss Rahul Bheke’s header in the 86th minute. The mid-table sides are lifting up in the standings, and Bengaluru desperately needs a win here to break this losing attitude, but the task is not easy. Sandhu was clinically better in the last game, but the forward-line lacked most. Jamshedpur goalkeeper soiled all the efforts from the Blues.
Meanwhile, the Islanders are in a better position this season, and Sergio Lobero has taken this side to the top. Mumbai are just one point behind the leaders with one game in hand. After the Mariners' victory on Sunday night, Mumbai requires a point to take the top spot back. After a dominant display in the last month of 2020, the Islanders started the new year with a comfortable 2-0 win over Kerala. Adam le Fondre started the scoring in the third minute through a penalty conceded by Costa Nhamoinesu, who misplaced Vicente Gomez’s pass.
Hugo Boumous welcomed the new year by making the lead double after few minutes with an excellent pass from Ahmed Jahouh. Kerala fought hard, but Sahal Abdul Samad and Jordan Murray couldn’t gain the chances. Vicuna made few changes in the second half to draw some late comeback, but Mumbai walked away with the full three points. The head to head numbers are also favouring Mumbai. This season is all about the revival of this club. Mumbai are undefeated to Bengaluru from the last four games in this competition and last lost to Blues in 2018.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Bengaluru
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Michael Klinger, Rahul Bheke, Pratik Chaudhari, Juanan, Suresh Wangjam, Cleiton Silva, Dimas Delgado, Harmanjot Khabra, Erik Paartalu, Kristian Opseth, Sunil Chhetri
Current form: L L W W D
Previous match: 1-0 victory over Jamshedpur
Mumbai
Amrinder Singh; Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Hernan Santana, Mandar Rao Dessai, Ahmed Jahouh, Rowllin Borges, Bipin Singh, Hugo Boumous, Raynier Fernandes, Adam Le Fondre
Current form: W W D W W
Previous match: 2-0 victory over Kerala
Key Players
Bengaluru
Cleiton Silva
3 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Sunil Chhetri
3 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Mumbai
Adam Le Fondre
6 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Hugo Boumous
1 goal and 4 assists in Indian Football League 2020-21
