Bengaluru FC and FC Goa, two teams who have shared an animating rivalry over the years, are all set to rekindle the duel as they face each other at the Fatorda Stadium in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Saturday (November 2) at 7:30 pm IST.
Both these teams have been ISL toppers in the past, with Bengaluru FC winning the title in 2018-19 and the Gaurs clinching the League Shield the following season. They are on a mission to reclaim that glory in the current campaign, and whilst their forms have been at the opposite ends of the spectrum thus far, the incredible quality of players in their ranks assures spectators of an engaging encounter with a significant lot to play for.
FC GOA’S QUEST OF FINDING THEIR FEET
· Winless Home Run: Playing at the bastion in their backyard is usually supposed to produce positive results for teams, but such hasn’t been the case for FC Goa in recent times. They have now gone four games without a victory at home, their longest such streak in the ISL, and the quicker they snap this – the better it will be to fuel their efforts of getting their fans to rally behind them this season.
· Marquez Stands Tall Against BFC: One factor that can help the Gaurs turn around their form is head coach Manolo Marquez’s commendable record against Bengaluru FC. The coach’s teams have not lost a game against the Blues in his eight face-offs against them. Bengaluru FC are one of the two teams along with East Bengal FC that he has faced at least thrice but never lost against in the ISL. Can his lucky charm against the Blues propel the Gaurs to success tomorrow?
BENGALURU FC’S PURPLE PATCH
· Replicating Title-Winning Season: With 16 points from six games, this is Bengaluru FC’s second-best start to an ISL season – only behind the 2018-19 campaign when they went on to finish atop the table. They seem to be on similar momentum this time around, winning five encounters, drawing once, scoring 11 goals and conceding merely once thus far. Can they hold on to this rhythm on the road against the Gaurs?
· Neat In Possession: Bengaluru FC have completed 82.1% of attempted passes in ISL 2024-25, which is the highest amongst all teams in the league. They have evidently been patient in their build-up, asserting pressure on the opposition’s backline, taking the game to them, and creating opportunities that their efficient frontline has been able to convert at ease. The Blues also scored thrice in their last away match, which was a 3-1 win against Kerala Blasters FC and the last time they netted multiple strikes on consecutive games at the opposition’s home was a sequence of three games between January-February 2023.
Head-to-Head
The two teams have played each other 15 times in the ISL. Bengaluru FC and FC Goa have won seven and four encounters each. Four matches have resulted in a draw.
Coach’s Corner
“Our attack is performing well“
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez quipped that his attack has been performing at an optimal level and he praised his team for producing competitive performances this season.
“The only game that we played bad was against Mohun Bagan. Against Mumbai, the match was even and other games we have played at a good level. The attack I feel is performing well now,” Marquez said.
“We try to protect our goal”
Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza shared an interesting insight about a defensive game plan that is helping them prevent more goal-scoring chances from coming into their box.
“We work hard to stop balls coming into our box. We try to protect our goal, we try to protect Gurpreet. When we do that, we will leave something open. If we close the areas in the middle, there will be space outside. We took a risk but at the moment in six games we haven’t conceded from crosses,” Zaragoza said.
Key Players & Milestones
· FC Goa striker Armando Sadiku has registered an expected goals (xG) goal tally of 4.49 this season, which is the highest amongst all players in the ISL. Sadiku has found the back of the net six times in five games already, averaging a strike every 69.66 minutes.
· Bengaluru FC custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has the opportunity to become the first goalkeeper in the ISL to keep 50 clean sheets. The shot-stopper has maintained 49 of them until now, including five this season itself. Sandhu has been a commanding presence between the posts for the Blues, and FC Goa will have to get past him to secure a positive result in this match.
· FC Goa’s Aakash Sangwan has been instrumental in helping the Gaurs find breakthroughs in the opposition’s defensive unit with his darting runs. He has made 41 penalty area entries already this year, and the Bengaluru FC defence will have to keep an eye out for him.
