Stallions eye season’s first victory against mighty Blues

In a repeat of last season’s semi-final clash, FC Pune City will host Bengaluru FC at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Monday, in what will be their first home match of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2018-19. With a host of exciting attacking talents on display, fans can expect a goal fest when both sides take to the pitch.

While Bengaluru have started from where they left off in the 2017-18 season, laying unbeaten in their first two fixtures, the Stallions will be looking to pick up their first win after drawing with Delhi Dynamos FC and losing against neighbours Mumbai City FC in the Maha Derby, respectively.

FC PUNE CITY

Questions will be raised about Pune City’s relatively poor start to the season. The Stallions had to rely on a late equalizer from Diego Carlos to get them out of jail in their first match against Delhi Dynamos, but were comfortably beaten against Mumbai City last week. Head coach Miguel Portugal will have to turn things around quickly if Pune are to go far this season.

In the four encounters against Bengaluru in 2017-18, Pune failed to register a single victory, a record which they will be hoping to overturn this time around. After making a substitute appearance against Mumbai, Marcelinho is expected to make his first start of the season alongside Emiliano Alfaro and Nikhil Poojari upfront.

Adil Khan and Jonathan Vila have not had successful outings so far and will have to step up their game. Matt Mills and Martin Diaz will be handed the almighty task of stopping the duo of Sunil Chhetri and Miku at the back. Vishal Kaith has committed a few errors in judgement, but his shot stopping abilities will still prove to be vital against a formidable Bengaluru attack.

Here’s a look at Pune’s current season in numbers:

BENGALURU FC

The Blues come into their third fixture of the season after a lengthy break owing to the International fixtures. Carles Cuadrat’s side have picked up four points out of a possible six, but would have been disappointed not to have bagged a victory against Jamshedpur in their previous fixture.

Last season, Bengaluru had the best away record, winning seven out of their nine matches and look likely to continue that impressive record going forward. The form of Chhetri and Miku will be vital to their chances against Pune. In the four matches played in the 2017-18 campaign between the two clubs, the pair contributed seven goals, which was the most against any single opponent.

If the likes of Erik Paartalu, Xisco Hernandez and Udanta Singh can provide the adequate service in the middle of the park, Bengaluru could come away as comfortable winners. Cuadrat is likely to stick to the same back four who started the first two matches, with the towering Gurpreet Singh Sandhu guarding the fort to restrict Pune’s potent attack.

Here’s a look at Bengaluru’s season in numbers

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

FC Pune City: Vishal Kaith (GK), Sarthak Golui, Matt Mills, Martin Diaz, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Adil Khan, Jonathan Vila, Nikhil Poojari, Ashique Kuruniyan, Emiliano Alfaro, Marcelinho

Bengaluru FC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Rahul Bheke, Albert Serran, Juanan, Nishu Kumar, Harmanjot Khabra, Erik Paartalu, Udanta Singh, Xisco Hernandez, Sunil Chhetri, Miku

DID YOU KNOW?

Pune have made the least successful tackles (12), interceptions (12) and clearances (38) so far this season.
Last season, Miku and Sunil combined to score seven goals against the Stallions.
In the last encounter between the two clubs (the semi-final second leg of Hero ISL 2017-18), Chhetri scored a hat-trick.

FANSPEAK

Which Spanish manager will emerge victorious in the battle of the tacticians?