Crucial tie for Goa to be back in top four

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC have almost sealed the spot in the playoffs with their last win over Chennaiyin FC but their opponents for Friday's Hero Indian Super League clash - FC Goa still have got all to do if they want to join the league leaders in the top four. 

Sergio Lobera's side are currently fifth in the league standings with 20 points, just three less than third-placed Chennaiyin FC. The Goan side, however, have a game in hand. A win tomorrow here at Sree Kanteerava Stadium could see FC Goa come back in the knock out contention strongly, but that is easier said than done when you are up against Bengaluru at home. 

Albert Roca's blues are sitting comfortably at the top of points table with a five-point lead over their nearest rivals FC Pune City. Bengaluru FC have won four consecutive games in the ISL. The home side have been in scintillating form since going down unceremoniously to Delhi Dynamos last month. 

Talking about tomorrow clash at the pre-match press conference, FC Goa's assistant coach Derrick Pereira emphasized that his team is focussed on the game at hand. "we would be focussing on the games that we have to play. We don't want to think ahead at this moment," he said.

Goa’s campaign has received set back with unfavourable results in last two outing, losing to Mumbai City and later a draw with NorthEast United. FC Goa has been troubled by their defence but Pereira believes that's is a part of how they play, "I think we play as a team and we follow a certain idea. We'll stick to that and won't change on those ideas."

FC Goa can take a heart ahead of the crucial game having defeated Bengaluru in a seven-goal thriller when the two teams squared off earlier in the season in Goa. And Bengaluru FC would want to set that record straight when they go out on the field. 

"In that game, we had our chances we didn't take them. But we knew we were playing against a really good team. Tomorrow we will be playing against a team which I think will be in the top four. They are a good team and they have good players," Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Roca said.

The Spanish tactician also hinted that he may rest some of his key players for the game given the tight schedule he has got. "We have also got an AFC game coming up. So we may make some changes." 

Defending champions ATK in dire straits

Kolkata : ATK will desperately look for a win when they meet table toppers Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League tie at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan Stadium, on Saturday. Because they know that anything less than that would mean an early exit for the defending champions.  

Having failed to repeat the consistency of the past seasons, ATK are currently 10 points adrift of the top four places with just six games left. But their interim coach, Ashley Westwood believes his side still has a "mathematical chance" of making it to playoffs. 

"It is still a mathematical possibility. If we win 6 out of 6, I'm sure we'll be close.  So there is definitely motivation in the team. When you are a professional, you have to keep playing and keeping winning points for your team. You have a duty towards your clubs and your fans. So tomorrow, we will fire on all cylinder and try to get all three points," Westwood told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

BFC skipper Sunil Chhetri during a practice
session with teammates

Since taking over from Teddy Sherringham last month, Westwood, who was brought in to resurrect their season, has faced two consecutive defeats. But the English tactician believes his side can still turn it around. But it isn't that straight forward though. To be in contention, ATK not only need to win all of their remaining six games but they will also hope that other teams above them on the table makes mistakes.

On the up side for the Kolkata team  their star player Robbie Keane could make a comeback in the game "He came back to the country on Sunday. He trained with us this morning.  We need to access where he is with his fitness. Obviously, we need to make sure we don't make mistakes regarding putting him in too early. We know how much he wants to play and if required I'm sure he'll be fine," Westwood said. 

Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their dominance at the top of ISL standings. Coach Albert Roca wants his side to keep their focus intact with playoffs not very far away. 

"In Delhi we thought it was a easy three points but that didn't happen, So there is no easy game in ISL. Even ATK are not doing well, but they still have some possibilities. And tomorrow, they will try to win and show that there are those possibilities," Roca said at the press conference. 

Bengaluru FC are fresh from a 3-0 win over Transport United in the AFC Cup. Roca's men have also won their last two ISL games, but Roca still feels their needs to be more balance in their performance. 
"We want to keep a clean sheet. I think that is important for a team. I am still trying to find that balance in the team. We still haven't won three consecutive games. We still need to push ourselves," he said. 

Bengaluru back on top with 2-1 win over NorthEast

Bengaluru:Bengaluru FC returned to the top of the Hero Indian Super League table after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over NorthEast United at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday. 

Spanish defender Juanan scored the opening goal to give BFC the lead before Marcinho equalised for the visitors from the spot. But it was BFC skipper Sunil Chhetri who scored the winner to take BFC to the top again. The victory means BFC are a point above Chennaiyin after the same number of games. The Blues have now won four of their last five matches.

Seminlen Doungel, still fresh from his hat-trick against Chennaiyin FC, tried to go for the spectacular when he went for a back-heeled effort early on. He was in the thick of the action again, but this time his high-boot led to an innocuous looking free kick for Bengaluru. Edu Garcia aimed straight for the danger area and Juanan somehow flicked it into the net to give the home side the lead. 

Sunil Chhetri of Bengaluru FC celebrates after scoring against NorthEast United FC

They almost doubled their lead but Chhetri's low effort was saved by the goalkeeper's foot and then a well-worked free kick was easily defended by NorthEast. The two chances came immediately after BFC had taken the lead and could have really hurt the visitors.

Lenny Rodriguez then set up Garcia with one of the passes of the league but the finish was very poor and didn't do justice to the precise pass. Juanan had another shy on goal with a header but this time it was just wide. 

Then Bengaluru gave away a penalty and allowed NorthEast to score completely against the run of play. It was a soft penalty where Subhasish Bose's arm struck the ball after a sliding tackle. Marcinho blasted the penalty past Gurpreet Singh.

The second half saw Garcia get another chance - but he made things difficult for himself and his attempt to curl the ball into the net went begging. Minutes later, a cross from Harmanjot Khabra eventually bounced at an odd angle for Chhetri, but he brilliantly scored at the far post - an impeccable finish. 

Doungel and Cezario were then through on goal with a fine combination but somehow didn't even hit the target. Most of the final quarter of an hour was about substitutions and a flurry of yellow cards. Until the 81st minute, when Nirmal Chhetri found John Mosquero who's header went over. NorthEast was creating half chances, but not finishing them.

They would regret that - as the whistle soon went off after the last highlight of the match - when NorthEast could only force a sharp save from Gurpreet.

Bengaluru seek a double over resurgent North East United FC

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC has been setting the pace on the points table in this season's Hero Indian Super League. The team has gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed. Albert Roca's men are currently in the second place with 21 points in the league standings, however he is aware that the job is not yet done when you have five other teams breathing down the neck. 

Their first of the challenge in maintaining top spot starts against the resurgent North East United FC at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Friday.

Bengaluru had to work hard for a 1:0 victory against the Highlanders when the two sides met in Guwahati earlier in the season and Roca is anticipating nothing less from the visitors. "We had to grind out a win in Guwahati and that game was an indicator of how tough a side they can be. A lot has changed for them off the pitch too and I know they will give us a hard time," the Spanish tactician in charge at Bengaluru said.  

"We approach every game with a certain degree of caution but not at the cost of compromising on our philosophy, and this game won’t be any different. NorthEast have been growing in confidence as the tournament has progressed and I haven’t been surprised at all," he added.

NorthEast United pulled off an inspiring 3:1 victory over Chennaiyin FC in their last outing, and Bengaluru FC would not want to suffer a similar fate with other teams’ are hot on their heals. At the moment, there are only three points separating the top place FC Pune City, on 22 points and fourth place FC Goa with 19 points to their credit. 

Bengaluru FC doesn’t want to settle anything less than victory in their remaining campaign to assure play-off. "Looking at how tight the top half of the table is, I would say 21 more points from the remaining seven games," Roca said.

Bengaluru FC are facing a gruelling fixture having returned to city from Bhutan only yesterday late night, and are scheduled to play next five games off 14 days. “Calendar is very hectic on us but this is a situation we cannot control. We are at a stage where every game is vital if we are to seal a spot in the semis. Fortunately, I have a squad that is willing to step up when called upon.”

The trip to Bengaluru FC will be Avram Grant's first away game as the head coach of North East United. The former Chelsea manager is quite hopeful that his side can repeat the feat against Bengaluru.

"I have seen them on television. They are a good team and I like the way they play. But as we have shown in our last match that we have the ability to win games," Grant said.

North East United are current 9 points off the top four places with just 8 more games left in the season. Talking about his sides chances of making it to the playoffs, Grant added, "Of course at the start of the season, the objective was a place in the top four. But now we just need to do the right thing. With so many points behind we just need to focus on the next game."

Back to wall, Dynamos’ hope to fight for survival

​​Delhi: Delhi Dynamos, on the brink of being eliminated from the competition, face an uphill task of overcoming the table toppers Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League Super Sunday clash at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

The home side desperately needs a win if they have to keep any hopes for survival as the ISL enters into business end of competition. So not surprisingly their coach Miguel Angel Portugal has declared that his team will treat the match as "a final."  

When asked about how he'll approach tomorrow's game, Portugal told reporters, "For us now this match is like a final."  

The fortunes of these two teams couldn't have been different at this stage of the Hero Indian Super League. Delhi Dynamos are struggling to find any form and are currently languishing at the base of the points table. Portugal's side has just managed to get four points from nine games so far. 

Their last outing at home ended in 3-1 loss to Kerala FC. Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, are leading the league standings, and  Albert Roca side would try everything possible to take advantage of the out-of-form Dynamos to increase their lead at the top.

Talking about the last game Portugal said, "We deserved more from the game. We played good. We had 70% of the ball possession. Kerala took their chances and the game ended 3-1."  The Spanish coach also backed his players despite his team's lack of form "Well, for the next I have almost the same team. I think my players have executed the plans well. 

The visitors come in the game with two back-to-back wins over ATK and Kerala and will be full of confidence when they go out on the field. But at the same time, their coach Albert Roca doesn't want to take anything lightly. Talking about the opponents he said, "I have a lot of respect for their coach Portugal. They have been playing good football but they have been unlucky at the same time. We'll have to wary of their threats." 

Bengaluru FC have been exceptional so far in their debut ISL season. Having players like Sunil Chettri in top form has also been really helpful, and coach Roca was full of praise for this team at the press conference. "We have some of the best players in the country. We have the captain of the national team but you still have to make a team out of it. So we have to keep learning and improving especially tomorrow to get the right result," he said.