Fresh from their Durand Cup success, Bengaluru FC begin their ISL campaign against Northeast United at the Kanteerava Stadium with fans back attending games.
The Blues missed the playoffs for consecutive seasons finishing sixth on the league table with Northeast United also suffering an underwhelming campaign ending in second last position.
BFC vs NEUFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 8 September 2022
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
BFC vs NEUFC Match Preview
Bengaluru and Northeast United will take to the pitch with two new coaches in their dugout. For BFC, the start of Simon Grayson’s era has been impressive with Bengaluru securing their first Durand Cup title after the English coach’s appointment in June. The success also came through positive requirements in the summer with stellar signings in defense as well as in attack. Fidgeting with two Covid seasons in a centralized venue in Goa under a bio-bubble, BFC felt it hard to cope on all sides and the lack of proper signings, financial reasons or other, became the main reason for their low graph performances in the last couple of years. BFC recorded their lowest and second lowest points tally in that period also conceding more goals than their usual discipline speaks of. Now Bengaluru FC could be optimistic to be in the mix among the top drawers in the league having an elegant manager at the helm and a rejuvenated squad to build plans on. Entering back into the playoffs should be the requirement from this season now that six clubs will participate for the places. The most satisfying part for the club is fans are back in the stadium making their support heard. The Blues did not enjoy the empty stands away from home for two full seasons as is for most other clubs. In the 2019/20 season, Bengaluru FC lost only one home game in the entire season last time they were at Kanteerava so the 12th person really makes a lot of difference. The club will have them at their back now as they look to start off proceedings in the new season with a win. Bengaluru FC feel Northeast United are the ideal opposition to face in their first game knowing they haven’t lost this meeting at Kanteerava since their inclusion in the ISL. BFC have won three of the four clashes played here. Hence, all directions point towards one conclusion for Simon Grayson’s men to continue their winning momentum from the Durand Cup.
It was a season to forget for Northeast United straight after an overachieving 2020/21 campaign with a tenth-place finish doing them little to no favor at all. The points tally of 14 is also the second joint lowest collected during their stint in ISL. The Highlanders have been a club making a see-saw ride over the seasons. At one point the usual talented squads look to defy the odds to move into playoffs but the very next season everything crumbles either under the expectations of maintaining the previous season’s standards or mainly the poor management. Northeast mainly turned out to be talent sellers to other big spenders in the ISL often immediately after a season of the player bursting onto the scene. The lack of proper foreign recruits also becomes a disadvantage in the continuity of the squad. Hence, a proper working plan doesn’t settle in. Under a new manager again to build the team for the new season, the fans demand consistency from the Highlanders. Coach Marco Balbul knows the weight of the task he has in hand to assure the fans he is fit for the role. European league experience like Romain Philippoteaux signing from French club Dijon on a free transfer, Midfielder Jon Gaztanga from Leonesa and striker Matt Derbyshire joining from Cypriot club AEK Larnaca, in Europa League this season, should make the needed impact. The Indian player acquisition has been no less striking with two key contributors to Gokulam FC’s I-league success for the back-to-back season, Jithin MS and the talented Emil Benny purchased in the summer. The coach himself managed Champions League campaigner Maccabi Hafia before taking this job. No doubt the CVs look glimmering and it is time now to translate the expertise onto the pitch. The Israeli has claimed his style of play will be aimed to win for the fans and no better way to start things off than picking up the first win away at Bengaluru for the curtain raiser.
BFC vs NEUFC Team News
Bengaluru FC will field their newfound defense and rejuvenated attack that help them win the Durand Cup for the first time last month. The ex-ATK Mohun Bagan duo of Prabir Das and Sandesh Jhingan will start in defense while Roy Krishna makes the attack. Another former player from the club, Javi Hernandez is tasked with the number ten role in the revolving front three. The familiar trio from last season of Bruno Ramires, Suresh Wangjam and Danish Farooq will begin in midfield.
For Northeast United, Arindam Bhattacharya will be between the sticks for a sixth different club in his ISL career. Defender Aaron Evans will partner with Gaurav Bora at the heart of the defense. The new foreign midfield pair of Romain Philippoteaux and Jon Gaztanaga will start alongside Rochharzela in midfield. Matt Derbyshire could also make his debut to lead the line. The duo brought from I-League champions Gokulam FC, Jithin MS and Emil Benny are to be offered chances in the game.
BFC vs NEUFC Predicted Lineups
BFC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Prabir Das, Sandesh Jhingan, Alan Costa, Roshan Naorem Singh; Bruno Ramires; Suresh Wangjam, Danish Farooq; Javi Hernandez; Roy Krishna, Sunil Chettri
Check out here 2022/23 ISL Club Profile: Bengaluru FC
NEUFC: Arindam Bhattacharya; Provat Lakra, Aaron Evans, Gaurav Bora, Gurjinder Kumar; Romain Philippoteaux, Jon Gaztanaga, Rochharzela; Danmawia, Matt Derbyshire, Jithin MS
BFC vs NEUFC Head to Head
Both shared a win each in two matches last season with the Highlanders winning 2-1 in their home but losing an absolute goal fest 4-2 to the Blues. Cleiton Silva gave BFC the lead inside 14 minutes only for Deshorn Brown to struck against his old side three minutes later. Masoor then scored an own goal to gift the lead back to the opposition before Mathias Coureur leveled up the score-line again. Silva then assisted Jayesh Rane to retake the lead for the third time in the 42nd minute paving the way for Prince Ibarra to settle the game once and for all late in the second half. However, the last game back at Kanteerava produced no goals at all with Ghanaian star Asamoah Gyan hitting the woodwark.
BFC vs NEUFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Gurpreet (8.5)
DEF: Lakra (9), Jhingan (8.5), Costa (9), Roshan (8.5)
MID: Philippoteaux (7.5), Javi (7.5), Rochharzela
FW: R Krishna (9), S Chhetri (9)
Captain: Roy Krishna
Vice-captain: Sunil Chhetri
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
