Bengaluru FC will take on Odisha FC at the EMS stadium in Kozhikode on Tuesday for the Hero Super Cup crown as the two unbeaten sides in the tournament look to end their respective seasons on a high.

The Blues have already bagged a trophy winning the Durand Cup and finished as runners-up in the Hero ISL 2022-23. Odisha FC made it to the Hero ISL playoffs for the first time in their history but couldn’t progress beyond the first knockout round as they were beaten by eventual winners ATK Mohun Bagan.

The Blues have pedigree in knockout cup football while Odisha FC have the form and the most deadly striker in Indian football in Diego Mauricio.

Our experts are back, ready to put their heads on the line and predict the outcome of this winner-takes-all clash

Erik Paartalu’s prediction

Bengaluru FC 1-0 Odisha FC

You have to go with the form team of the calendar year and the team that's managed to reach all the finals on offer in India this year. They won't want to slip up for a second time.

I don't expect Bengaluru to score many goals but when they get themselves the first, they have a habit of locking things up and taking the game slowly away from the opposition.

Mark Tompkins’ prediction

Bengaluru FC 3-1 Odisha FC

I think Bengaluru FC will be too strong for Odisha FC. They are very strong defensively and have only conceded two goals so far. Simon Grayson seems to have sorted his team defensively.

It will be a big night and a big test for Odisha FC who have Digeo Mauricio who has scored goals in this tournament already. But Odisha FC have conceded the opening goal in three out of the four games and that could be key. If they fall behind in this game, they will find it very difficult to get back at Bengaluru FC as they are so good defensively.

In the regular Hero ISL season, they closed out so many 1-0 wins by just being very strong defensively and of course, they have got Gurpreet Singh Sandhu as the last line of defence as well.

They won the Durand Cup and got into the final of the Hero ISL. So, they have great experience in knockout football. I think they will be too strong defensively for Odisha FC to cause them any real problems.

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Bengaluru FCOdisha FC Erik Paartalu