Bengaluru FC take on Chennaiyin FC in the grand finale of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. The Blues will be confident on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run and will be backed by their raucous home support. A club that won the Hero I-League in their debut season, Bengaluru will be hoping to achieve something similar in their Hero ISL debut.

Chennaiyin on the other hand, are the only champions apart from ATK to have ever won the Hero ISL title. Bringing back the title they lost as defending champions in Hero ISL 2016 would put them on par with the Kolkata-based outfit, who are also two-time champions. Chennaiyin are unbeaten in their last seven matches and showed firepower in their attack as well as discipline in their defence to get the better of a free-scoring FC Goa side with a 3 – 0 score-line in their semi-final second leg. They’ve already beaten Bengaluru once away from home this campaign but will be wary of their loss against the same opposition in their previous meeting.

HEAD TO HEAD

Bengaluru FC 1 – 1 Chennaiyin FC (0 Draws)

KEY PLAYERS

Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)

Bengaluru’s captain has shown scintillating form and rose to the challenge in his team’s last match against Pune. With a hat-trick in that encounter, he has notched up 13 goals in the campaign, which is by far the most by any Indian in league history. Chhetri has been at his deadly best, tearing apart opposition backlines with his intelligent runs and clinical finishing. He will be hoping to inspire his side to one last win that hands them the coveted Hero ISL trophy.

Jeje Lalpekhlua (Chennaiyin FC)

The Mizo Sniper broke his goal drought in style when he bagged a crucial brace in their 3-0 win over Goa. He is his team’s highest scorer with nine goals and being strong as well as opportunistic, does not need any second invitation to pounce on an opening. A player who can hold off opposition defenders to good effect, Jeje will be looking to put on his scoring boots in the finale as he looks to bring Chennaiyin their second title in three seasons.

POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS

Bengaluru FC

Albert Roca is likely to use his usual 4-2-3-1 formation as he looks to take the attack to their opponents in front of their home fans.

Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Defenders: Rahul Bheke, John Johnson, Juanan, Subhasish Bose

Midifelders: Sunil Chhetri, Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Lenny Rodrigues, Udanta Singh

Forward: Miku

Bengaluru head coach Roca on his team's approach: "It is important to keep the shape that we have shown throughout the season. We have always been up there and we finished the season in first position. So it is important to keep doing so. We have never lost concentration and that is why we are where we are."

Chennaiyin FC

John Gregory would want to counter Roca with his own balanced 4-2-3-1 formation, in the hope of fighting fire with fire.

Goalkeeper: Karanjit Singh

Defenders: Inigo Calderon, Mailson Alves, Henrique Sereno, Jerry Lalrinzuala

Midfielders: Dhanpal Ganesh, Anirudh Thapa, Francisco Fernandes, Raphael Augusto, Gregory Nelson

Forward: Jeje Lalpekhlua

Chennaiyin head coach Gregory on the importance of scoring first in the game: "It is a game where if you concede a goal first, you have a mountain to climb. And you have to do that quickly. Both teams have got be a little more attack-minded because somebody needs to score more goals in 90 minutes. No one really wants to play extra-time and then penalties."

KEY STAT

• Both teams have lost their home encounters against each other this season

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER

Chennaiyin FC 1 – 3 Bengaluru FC (6^th February 2018 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai)

FORM GUIDE (Last five matches)

Bengaluru FC: W D W W D

Chennaiyin FC: W D W D D