Both Hyderabad FC and Bengaluru FC are aiming to get back to winning ways after dropping points in their previous fixtures. While HFC haven't lost since their opening game while BFC are yet to win after doing so in their first game of the season.
HFC vs BFC Match Details :
When: Wednesday, December 8
Time: 19:30
Where: GMC Athletic Stadium
HFC vs BFC Match Preview :
Hyderabad know winning against Bengaluru will get them into the top four but for that they have to find their way for three points. After extraordinarily beating champions Mumbai City in their second game, they failed to keep the momentum against Jamshedpur FC. In fact, HFC had to come from behind through Ogbeche's strike in the second half to cancel out Greg Stewart's opener. Jamshedpur have proven a difficult opposition to break down by following that draw with a win over ATK Mohun Bagan but considering Hyderabad's remarkable performance against the holders they should have gain more out of the game. But Manolo Marquez will Instruct his boys to come back with three points from the next one.
Bengaluru FC offered some good football against holders MCFC but couldn't get anything at the end of the day from the 3-1 defeat. Clieton Silva showed his magic again this time from a beautifully curled free-kick for the equalizer after Alan Costa handled the ball in the box to let Igor Angulo score from the spot. Sunil Chettri, unexpectedly, missed yet another penalty as he chase the record of being the top scorer in the ISL before Angulo's terrific header came off the post for substitute Catatau to net in his second goal of the season. The second loss compounded on Marco Pezzaiuoli side also came at a cost of Prince Ibarra's injury. BFC are desperate to overturn their miserable last campaign so they have to gather all three points soon no matter the calibre of the opposition.
Recent Form :
HFC: LWD
BFC: WLDL
HFC vs BFC Team News :
Manolo Marquez will be without his two elegant wingers in Halicharan Narzary and Yasir Mohammed as they continue to nurse their injury. Natzary played only 10 minutes in this ISL season that too in the first game while Yasir sustained his issue only last game after a promising start to his campaign. Other than that, HFC have a fully fit squad.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC will be without their frontman Prince Ibarra for this clash after the Congolese went down in an agony of a possible injury. Marco Pezzaiuoli since has confirmed it as an adductor issue. There are match fitness concerns for Musavu-King, Iman Basafa and Udanta Singh while Leon Augustine remains out with an ankle injury. Sarthak Golui has left the team bubble to attend a family emergency so the right-back won't be featuring for the next game at least.
HFC vs BFC Expected Lineups :
HFC: Laxmikant Kattimani; Asiah Rai, Sana Singh, Juanan, Akash Mishra, Joao Victor, Hitesh Sharma, Yasir Mohammed, Joel Chianese, Aniket Jadhav, Bartholomew Ogbeche.
BFC: Singh-Sandhu; Reagan Singh, Alan Costa, Musavu-King, Ashique Kuruniyan, Suresh Wangjam, Bruno Edgar, Jayesh Rane, Udanta Singh, Cleiton Silva, Sunil Chhetri
HFC vs BFC Head to Head :
Interestingly, Hyderabad are yet to register a win against Bengaluru since the franchise's existence in the league. Even with BFC having their worst season last term, Hyderabad only managed a 2-2 draw and a 0-0 stalemate. That being said Bengaluru FC have only managed to defeat HFC only once in the total of four games.
HFC vs BFC Dream11 Team Prediction :
GK: Kattimani (HFC)
DEF: A. Rai (HFC), Sana (HFC), A. Costa (BFC), Mishra (HFC)
MID: Udanta (BFC), Victor (HFC), Bruno Edgar (BFC), A. Jadhav (HFC)
FW: Ogbeche (HFC), C. Silva (BFC)
Match Prediction: HFC 1-1 BFC
Neither club would want to take unnecessary risks so early in the campaign but won't rest for defeat either. A draw is more suited to this fixture like in the recent meetings although it won't be a surprise if either of them takes three points in the evening.
