Rejuvenated Bengaluru FC locks horns with struggling SC East Bengal under new management in an attempt to move up the table. BFC achieved only their second win of the campaign in the last game whereas the Red and Gold brigade is still searching for one.
BFC vs SCEB Match Details :
When: Tuesday, January 4
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Where: Tilak Maidan
BFC vs SCEB Match Preview :
The 4-2 thrilling victory by Bengaluru FC over Chennaiyin before the end of last year might be an indication that the team is slowly jelling with coach Marco Pezzaiouli's tactics. Though BFC went behind inside four minutes due to Mirlan Murzaev's opener, Clieton Silva converted the equalizer from the spot and Alan Costa proving crucial from corners turned the game around. Rahim Ali found the back of the net to level things up again but two quickfire goals from Udanta Singh and Pratik Chaudhari sealed the points for the former ISL winners. Clieton Silva had an enormous influence on the Blues again with a goal and assist in the game taking his tally to 8 goals in 9 games. His continued brilliance irrespective of the team performance is something for BFC to build on. They feel momentum is building after avoiding defeats in the last three matches withdraws to ATK Mohun Bagan and Jamshedpur, both sides in the upper reaches of the table. Pezzaiouli's men now want to follow this with another victory.
Low lying SC East Bengal team are trying hard to fetch their first three points of the season with the sacking of Manolo Diaz and the appointment of Mario Riviera may change things up. However, the Spaniard won't be available for the game against Bengaluru FC so former Indian football team captain Renedy Singh will be seeing proceedings for this one. The Kolkata giant is stranded at rock bottom of the table with only four points achieved after eight games and no wins to their name. They have also scored only ten goals but conceded 18. The 1-1 draw against second-placed Hyderabad FC proved to be the last nail in the coffin for the dejected dressing room, reportedly falling out with the manager. Renedy's work for the short time will be to motivate the players and construct a bonding between them to develop a winning mentality for Riviera to take in full hands when he arrives. A draw in this game looks like a likable outcome but gathering all three points will be a huge morale boost for the turnaround to kick in.
Recent Form
Bengaluru FC: LLDDW
SC East Bengal: DLDLD
BFC vs SCEB Team News :
Leon Augustine and Musavu King are nowhere close to feature in this game due to their respective injury with Akashdeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Amey Morajkar still not in contention. Sarthak Golui remains absent for personal reasons.
In the meantime, SC East Bengal will be without Raju Gaikward, Franjo Prce, Jakichand Singh and Darrel Sidoel all out due to their respective injury issues. The Croatian, Antonio Perosevic is also out as he continues to serve his five-match ban after being involved in a verbal spat with the officials.
BFC vs SCEB Expected Lineups :
Bengaluru FC: Gurpreet Singh; Ajith Kumar, Alan Costa, Parag Shrivas, Naorem Roshan, Suresh Wangjam, Bruno Edgar, Danish Farooq, Ashique Kuruniyan, Prince Ibara, Cleiton Silva
SC East Bengal: Arindam Bhattacharya; Joyner Lourenco, Tomislav Mrcela, Adil Khan, Hira Mondal, Amarjit Singh, Sourav Das, Mohammed Rafique, Amir Dervisevic, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Daniel Chima
BFC vs SCEB Head to Head :
These two have always been neck in neck in their Indian football leagues meetings, a total of eight. None of those ended in a draw. As a result, both of them have won four games each. In the only ISL meets last season, SC East Bengal won the first encounter while Cleiton Silva and a Debjit Majumder's own goal helped Bengaluru FC to seek revenge in the other fixture.
BFC vs SCEB Dream11 Team Prediction :
GK: Gurpreet (BFC)
DEF: Rafique (SCEB), Costa (BFC) Mrcela (SCEB), Roshan (BFC)
MID: Dervisevic (SCEB), Bruno (BFC), Farooq (BFC), Kuruniyan (BFC)
FW: Chima (SCEB), Ibara (BFC), Cleiton (BFC)
