Bengaluru: A cracker of a contest is in the offing with the first game of Indian Super League (ISL) Season 6 in 2020, as defending champions Bengaluru FC cross swords with table-toppers FC Goa at the Sree Kanteerava stadium on Friday.
FC Goa will look to extend their lead at the top while Bengaluru will look to cut the gap between them and Goa to two points. Ever since the first game between the two sides finished in Goa's favour, Bengaluru have had the upper hand in this fixture, remaining unbeaten in five matches against the Gaurs.
"We are going to face one of the best teams in the ISL. It's a big match for us but I think in the situation right now, the pressure is on them. We have five points between us. We can go to Bengaluru with confidence and if we can get three points, the gap will increase to eight points," said Goa assistant coach Jesus Tato.
Goa's task of turning their fortunes around against the Blues will be that much harder as they will be without coach Sergio Lobera on the touchline after he was sent off in their last game against Chennaiyin FC.
A lot would depend on star striker Ferran Corominas, who has been in great form lately. However, the Spanish striker hasn't really come to life when pitted against Juanan and Albert Serran. Another key player will be Brandon Fernandes who comes into the tie on the back of two goals in as many games and also has five assists to his name. In fact, no Indian has a better goal involvement number than the 25-year-old Goan.
"I think we're doing well this season, quite similar to last season in the way that we're missing our striker for nine games (Miku). We're missing Onwu for 7 games. If you see the top scorers table, every team has a foreigner with goals. In the end, football is about balance and we have been balanced enough to have been fighting for the playoffs in the last two seasons," said Bengaluru coach Carles Cuadrat.
Bengaluru have struggled this season against fellow play-off contenders, losing to ATK and Mumbai City FC, while they could only manage a draw against FC Goa in the reverse fixture. Cuadrat will be desperate to ensure they take everything at stake in a potential 'six-pointer'.
Set-pieces could play a big role in deciding the outcome of the match. Both teams make the most of offensive set-pieces - FC Goa's 11 out of 22 goals have come from dead-ball situations while six of Bengaluru's 11 goals have stemmed from setpieces. Both teams have the best records in defending set-pieces as well.
"They concentrate more on setpieces, which I know from when I was playing for them. They had a special session on setpieces. We have to take care of the fast players like Udanta (Singh) and Ashique (Kuruniyan) but most importantly we have to play our own game the way coach wants us to play," said Goa's Mandar Rao Dessai, who has played for Bengaluru in the past.
It should make for an exciting battle at the Sree Kanteerava, a place Bengaluru calls their Fortress.
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