Preview: Bengaluru FC target playoff qualification against Chennaiyin FC
Chennaiyin FC, who are coming off back-to-back victories, will aim to carry forward the unbeaten run against Bengaluru FC to boost their playoff hopes.
Bengaluru FC will host Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on February 25, at 7:30 pm IST.
Both these teams are in two-game-long winning runs currently, with the Blues placed fourth in the table, having 34 points from 21 games on the back of 10 wins and four draws. Chennaiyin FC are eighth with 24 points, eight behind the sixth-placed Mumbai City FC (32), and they will want to keep their qualification hopes afloat with a positive outcome here.
The Blues have a formidable hold over this fixture at home, winning each of their last four games against the Marina Machans and keeping a clean sheet in three of them – having a chance to make the Owen Coyle-coached side the second side after Kerala Blasters FC whom they beat five times in a row at Kanteerava.
However, Chennaiyin FC are stitching a positive string of results, winning their last two matches by 3-0 and 2-1 against East Bengal FC and Punjab FC respectively. A clean sheet alongside winning this match would result in only the second instance in ISL, and the first since October 2015, when they triumph in back-to-back away games without conceding.
Bengaluru FC’s Attacking Instincts
• Scoring Consistency: The Blues have scored multiple goals in 13 matches this season, including thrice on the bounce now. The last time they have beat this tally in a single season was during their 2017-18 campaign, where they scored multiple goals in 14 matches. Can they take the offensive route to overcome Chennaiyin FC at Kanteerava?
• Build-Up Play: Bengaluru FC have averaged 34.3 passes per shot in 2024-25, the highest for any side, displaying their measured build-up play before attempting a strike.
Chennaiyin FC Bounce Back
• Recent Form: The Marina Machans have won their last two ISL games after going through a seven-match winless streak (D3 L4). A triumph in this match would mark their longest winning streak since a three-game-long run between March-April 2024, which propelled their late charge for a playoff spot last season.
• Connor’s Impact: With one goal and eight assists, Connor Shields is just one goal contribution away from becoming the ninth Chennaiyin FC player to register 10+ goal contributions in a single ISL season.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have played 16 matches against each other, with Bengaluru FC winning nine games and Chennaiyin FC emerging victorious four times. Three encounters have produced draws.
Coaches Corner
“We need to achieve our objective”
Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza said that his team needs to produce a positive result and get the three points to confirm their place in the top-6.
“We deserve the six points that we won in the last two matches. Now, we have to achieve our objective, which is to arrive in the playoffs,” he said.
“The team will have to defend really well”
Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle laid down straightforward objectives for his team ahead of the match against Bengaluru FC.
“We have to go and win the game; it’s as simple as that. The team will have to defend really well, against a good Bengaluru FC unit,” he said.
Key Players & Milestones
• No player has more goal contributions in this fixture than Sunil Chhetri (7 goals, 2 assists). A goal or an assist in this game would make him the first player in ISL history to record 10+ goal contributions against three different teams (Kerala Blasters FC - 11, NorthEast United FC - 10). The 40-year-old has had a remarkable campaign, netting 11 goals and registering two assists thus far.
• Chennaiyin FC’s Irfan Yadwad has completed 18 shot-ending carries this season, the second highest among Indian players, behind Liston Colaco (25). He has scored thrice and assisted four times in 21 appearances this term.
• Bengaluru FC’s Alberto Noguera has had a productive season upfront, scoring five goals and recording two assists in 20 matches, in addition to making 26 key passes, 89 recoveries, and winning 143 duels too.
Alberto Noguera (₹9.2cr)
The Bengaluru FC star has earned the second-highest ISL fantasy points (111) in his team this season
Connor Shields (₹7.2cr)
The Chennaiyin FC player has bagged the most ISL fantasy points (71) in his side this season
The Indian Super League will be streamed live on JioHotstar (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam) and telecast live on Star Sports – 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam).
