Odisha FC will take on Bengaluru FC in their upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 clash on December 1, Sunday, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar with the match slated to kick off at 7:30 PM IST.

Odisha FC come into this game on the back of an impressive 6-0 win over Hyderabad FC, having climbed to sixth in the ISL table with three wins and draws each this season. Bengaluru FC, meanwhile, sit at the top, boasting six victories and a couple of draws. The Blues recently defeated Mohammedan SC 2-1 in their last away outing.

Odisha FC have gradually begun finding their feet after an indifferent start to the season, whereas Bengaluru FC have been rolling seamlessly ever since the campaign got going. Both these sides have momentum swaying in their favour and they should try to make the most out of it, in their march forward this season.

Odisha FC’s Fortress

* Unbeaten streak in Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC have won each of their two previous ISL games against Bengaluru FC at the Kalinga Stadium. A win here would make the Blues the fourth team that Odisha FC maintain a 100%-win record against at this venue (min. 2 games), joining East Bengal FC, Hyderabad FC, and NorthEast United FC. The rousing crowd support they command in Bhubaneswar can propel the Juggernauts to scale this feat.

* Longest unbeaten streak? The Juggernauts are unbeaten in their last two encounters with Bengaluru FC in the ISL (W1 D1). A win or a draw would mark their longest-ever unbeaten streak against the Blues. Can the in-form Bengaluru FC snap this momentum and exert their authority in the proceedings tomorrow?

Bengaluru FC’s Momentum

* Away resurgence: The Blues have won two of their four away matches this season, and it’s only the second time in their history they have achieved this tally in the first four away games (2018-19: 4/4 wins). The entire team has been functioning like a well-drilled unit and they are hence gradually taking the home-away factor out of consideration this year, succeeding across venues.

* Goal-scoring spree: Bengaluru FC have netted multiple goals in each of their last two ISL matches. The last time they achieved a longer streak was a five-game run between January and February 2023. Their frontline has been boosted by the presence of Sunil Chhetri, who came off the bench to bag a brace against Mohammedan SC in the last game.

Coach's Corner

“Getting wins will help us in the final leg of the season”

Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera stressed the need to get on to a positive rhythm and secure wins that can help them seal their fate towards the end of the campaign.

Read more -> Odisha FC pre-match press conference.

“The first step is the next game. We know we will have six points in play in the coming couple of matches. Getting points is important to get in a good position, which will help us in the final leg of the competition, Lobera said.

“We made really good signings”

Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza understands that good summer acquisitions and a formidable pre-season have been central to their success so far this year.

Read more -> Bengaluru FC pre-match press conference.

“We made some really good signings. We worked hard to find the best players for our style. We did a good pre-season. I don’t know if we are contenders or not. The only thing we want is to play games and win them now,” Zaragoza said.

Head-to-Head

Odisha FC and Bengaluru FC have faced off 10 times in the ISL. The Blues hold the upper hand with five wins, while the Juggernauts have claimed three victories and two matches have ended in draws.

Key Players to Watch

* Odisha FC’s Hugo Boumous has been in formidable form, contributing a goal or an assist in each of his last three games. At home, he has logged three assists this season, which is the joint-most by any player alongside Greg Stewart. The attacking midfielder has found his groove under Sergio Lobera's trusted stewardship.

* Bengaluru FC’s Sunil Chhetri scored three goals against Odisha FC in the ISL, the highest score by any player in this fixture. A goal or assist in this game will make him the outright leading contributor in this matchup. He has been looking sharp and hungry for strikes, which could cause problems for the Juggernauts.

* Bengaluru FC’s Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has been a wall between the posts, boasting a league-high saving accuracy of 82.1%. He has saved 32 of the 39 shots faced this season, with 16 of those coming from long-range efforts. His tremendous reflexes will mean that the Odisha FC frontline will have to be at the top of their game in terms of the efforts and endeavours they undertake upfront.

* Odisha FC’s Ahmed Jahouh has provided an assist in his last two games. His last assist against Bengaluru FC came in December 2021, but he has failed to set up any goals in the six consecutive games against them since. Will he break that deadlock in Bhubaneswar tomorrow?

ISL Fantasy

Mourtada Fall (6cr)

The Odisha FC star has the highest ISL fantasy points (60) in his team this year

Rahul Bheke (4.9cr)

The defender has earned the highest ISL fantasy points (63) amongst Bengaluru FC players this season so far

Indian Super League is being streamed live free on JioCinema (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam) and telecast live on Sports 18 — 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam). Additionally Sports 18 — 1, Sports 18 — 2 and Sports 18 — Khel is also telecasting select ISL matches LIVE.