Bengaluru FC are strong favourites for the 2017-18 Hero Indian Super League title as they prepare for the final showdown against southern rivals Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. The Blues have enjoyed an impressive debut season in the league having topped the table following the league stage with 40 points. They finished eight points above fellow finalists and second-placed Chennaiyin, who along with Bengaluru have lost just four matches all season – the least in the league.

Both sides will be looking to avoid a fifth defeat as they face off in a final, which also happens to be a feisty southern derby. Bengaluru will be in a confident mood since they’ll be heading into the contest on the back of a 10-match undefeated streak in the Hero ISL. They emerged as comfortable winners in the semis after overcoming FC Pune City and will be looking to end their debut campaign with the prestigious Hero ISL trophy. With the odds heavily tilted in their favour, here’s a look at how Bengaluru are placed to ensure that there’s no upset on the card.

Strengths:

• Only FC Goa with 43 goals have found the back of the net more times than Bengaluru in Hero ISL 2017-18. The Blues have scored 38 times so far with most of their goals coming in the second half of games. Chennai will thus need to worry about Bengaluru’s ability to score as well as their propensity of finding the net in the second period of contests, when matches get increasingly stretched and defences tire.

• Bengaluru’s lethal attacking duo of Miku and Sunil Chhetri are responsible for 27 of their 38 goals. The attacking pairing is one of the Blues’ biggest strength with the understanding between the two forwards key to the success of the side. Mike is their top-scorer with 14 goals, while Chhetri trails the Venezuelan by a strike. Both of them have managed hat-tricks this season with Chhetri getting his in Bengaluru’s last game. Chhetri, in fact, became the first ever Indian to score 10 goals in a Hero ISL season recently and his first ever hat-trick for Bengaluru was also his second in the league, making him the only domestic player to score on three occasions in a game twice in Hero ISL.

• Another facet of Bengaluru’s game that cannot be overlooked is their excellent defensive record that’s seen them concede just 17 times in 20 matches. They have kept four clean sheets in their last six games and will need to be switched on against Chennai, who are capable of punishing lapses at back with smart anticipation and intelligent set-pieces.

Weaknesses:

• Bengaluru have lost at home just twice this season, however, they wouldn’t have forgotten that the first of those defeats came against Chennaiyin, who beat them 2-1. Even though the Blues hit back with a 3-1 win over Chennai in their previous meeting, the 2015 champions may hold a slight psychological advantage over their southern counterparts when they step onto the pitch on Saturday.

• Another chink in the Bengaluru setup could be their frequent concession of penalties with their rash tackles and decision-making inside the box. They have conceded six penalties this season and it can be something that Chennai look to exploit with added pressure on the hosts in their penalty box.

Players to watch:

Defence:

Juanan – The Spaniard has been a rock at the back for Chennaiyin throughout the campaign with his partnership alongside John Johnson being crucial to Bengaluru’s solidity. Not shy of getting forward either, he has also netted once.

Midfield:

Erik Paartalu – The towering Australian midfielder will have a major role to play as he looks to shield the Blues’ backline. He is a threat in the opposition box from set-pieces as well and has scored three goals, while also providing two assists.

Attack:

Sunil Chhetri – Chhetri will be raring to go after bagging a hat-trick in his last outing as he looks to add another feather in his cap by winning his first Hero ISL title. The Bengaluru skipper has already scored in both fixtures against Chennai earlier this season.

Catch the final live 8 pm onwards on the Star Sports network and Hotstar.