BENGALURU: After an impressive start to the season with three wins from four matches, Bengaluru FC players spent time with their families during the international break. Some of them were involved with the national team too. But the majority of the players regrouped around a week back and prepare for the top of the table clash against Punjab FC in the Indian Super League at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Friday.
The home team, who currently top the table with ten points, will be keen to maintain their brilliant start. But it is going to be tricky to get the ball rolling immediately after the break for both teams. If the Blues played their last game on Oct 2 against Mumbai City (0-0), second-placed Punjab has not played since Sept 25 (2-1 win, against Hyderabad FC).
Blues’ head coach Gerard Zaragoza wants to restart where his team left off and maintain that winning momentum at the Fortress. “When you are winning, everything goes well and that’s our momentum and we need to maintain that. And I’m sure that it will be difficult for teams to play against us,” said the gaffer, who also went back to Spain for a few days. “It’s true that we have the best defensive record in the League, but I’m not sure if we can say we are in-form because there has been a long break between the last game and this. What I can say for sure is that this will be a tough match.”
BFC, who will don the newly-launched third kit in pink to raise awareness for women’s safety, have been one of the best teams in the competition this season, be it offense or defence. They have scored seven goals and remain the only team in the league yet to concede a goal. Old war-horse Sunil Chhetri has been impressive with three goals in the campaign and will hold the key alongside Edgar Mendez up front.
Punjab is aware of the threat Bengaluru can bring to the table, especially at Sree Kanteerava. “For us it's a regular away game against a good team with a good coach, certain plan and good players. We have one way to address these (away) games and our plan will be to leave with three points,” said Punjab coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, who is looking to register their fourth straight win of the season.
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