Bengaluru FC up for Mohun Bagan challenge

The last time Mohun Bagan left the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, it was as the I-League champions at the end of one of, if not the most, enthralling title battles in the league’s history. A memory that will haunt the Bengaluru FC players and fans as much as it will be cherished by the Kolkata giants’ fans.

After all the home faithful saw the title slip from their hands in the last five minutes of the campaign.

And the home side will have a point to prove when the two sides clash on Saturday.

Currently atop the standings with 15 points from seven matches, Bengaluru FC are in better touch than their adversaries. Bagan are four points behind the leaders with two games in hand, and come into the tie on the back of a 6-0 thrashing by Chinese side Shandong Luneng in the Asian playoffs and a goal-less draw against Mumbai FC.

But form is only temporary and cold statistics reveal two draws between them at the fortress over the two seasons.

Having successfully rotated his side, Ashley Westwood’s side will still have to be at their best to stop the visitors.

With the likes of Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde running the game in the middle it will take a combined effort from the home side to prevent the duo from finding balls to star striker Cornell Glen.

The onus in attack will fall on Kim Song-Yong and Sunil Chhetri while it will be interesting to see if BFC go for C.K. Vineeth, an adventurous forward, or the more disciplined Beikhokhei Beingaichho on the right hand side.