Bengaluru eye maiden ISL title

Bengaluru: Against the backdrop of a colourful rivalry, a South Indian derby will elect the champions of the Indian Super League 2017-18 when hosts Bengaluru FC, vying for their maiden title in their debut season, take on 2015 title-winners Chennaiyin FC in a blockbuster finale at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.

The Blues trampled all manner of records, from the highest points total to defeating every team at least once in the league stage, and are attempting to continue the winning tradition that has seen them lift two I-league and Federation Cup titles each since the club’s inception. Undefeated in the last 15 games in all competitions, BFC are the pre-match favourites and will have the chance to put early-season critics to the sword and clinch the title in their own backyard.

Manager Albert Roca remains confident that any trepidation over the magnitude of the fixture will be overcome by the home advantage and the fact that they’d already beaten the Super Machans 3-1 in Chennai away from home.

“It’s going to be the toughest game of our campaign – mentally and physically. There is a lot riding on this game for us at the club and our fantastic supporters and we need to get the job done for the both of us. I’m happy for the city that we could give them an appearance in the final. We will be giving our all to take that one final step,” said the Spaniard.

But they are up against the side most likely to derail the Blue juggernaut. The Super Machans, who finished second on the table, arrive into this one with the big-game nous, having won the title in 2015 and ending runners-up a year later. Coupled with their 2-1 win over here earlier in the season, John Gregory will know his side have every chance to claim their second ISL trophy, thereby satisfying a horde of vociferous travelling fans.

“We are not the only team who have won there, so we know Bengaluru are not infallible. We have the utmost respect for them for what they have done this season, but we don’t fear anybody,” Gregory quipped.

Just as both the first legs of the semi-finals were cagey affairs, the Englishman expects a rugged battle with the finest of margins deciding a winner.

The 3-0 hammering of FC Goa in the second leg will offer renewed belief that BFC’s pair of Sunil Chhetri and Miku (27 goals between them) can be stopped in a similar manner to when they halted another prolific pair — Gaurs’ Ferran Corominas and Manuel Lanzarote.

From goalkeepers Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Chennaiyin’s Karanjit Singh to hot-shot strikers Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua, the final offers a series a seismic mini-clashes between the Indian statesmen on either team. Skipper Chhetri has termed this fixture “the most important game of his life” and for an expectant fan-base at the Fortress, hope springs eternal in the quest for silverware.