Odisha FC are aiming to build on their victory against Kerala Blasters against Bengaluru FC suffering their first loss of the 2022/23 campaign to the holders Hyderabad FC.
The Juggernauts are placed in the third spot in the ISL table with six points while Bengaluru FC are two places behind them earning four points from three games.
OFC vs BFC Match Details
Date: Thursday, 27 October 2022
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar
OFC vs BFC Match Preview
The long-awaited return of Odisha FC to Kalinga Stadium did not disappoint the fans after their team bounced back from the defeat against Mumbai City FC and they delivered by claiming the second three points of the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters. It was their first victory over the Tuskers in five meetings which will give them a boost to close the month with another win, this time against Bengaluru FC to seek revenge for their Durand Cup exit a month ago in consecutive home games of the season. The game on Sunday was even-footing with either side looking to snatch the points out of one another with 11 shots on target combined between them. The Juggernauts had the most of the two with eight but it was Kerala Blaster’s right-back Harmanjot Khabra that broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. A response was required from Odisha FC in the second half for their continued pressure on the opposition box and they delivered through their starlet Jerry Mawihmingthanga in the 54th minute. The winger was a menace throughout the evening with his crosses from the right proving hard to defend for the Blaster’s defense. He and his teammates went close to finding the back of the net while the away side hit the post at the other end from a corner but the stage was set for substitute Pedro Martin latching onto a long clearance from goalkeeper Amrinder Singh and thumping in the winner. Facing another side from the South in home surroundings again, Odisha FC will like to implement their never dying spirit again collecting every win so far by overturning deficits. Head coach Josep Gombau knows this is not a sustainable way to go about things but considering Bengaluru FC made a comeback win in extra time in the Durand Cup knockout stages to eliminate Odisha FC from the competition, he will take a scrappy win again. Gombau himself resonated the revenge cries ahead of the match so Odisha FC will look for three points again.
Bengaluru FC was on the course to pick up their consecutive draw in the campaign what was to be an important one against the defending champions Hyderabad FC but a mistake from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu of a Borja Herrera’s corner fell right on the head of the lurking Bartholomew Ogbeche to score the winner in the 1-0 win eight minutes from the end. India’s The Blues struggled to create clear-cut chances to score throughout the game as their overreliance on defensive football did not work this time. They also missed Roy Krishna to be a focal point in the attack with his replacement Javi Hernandez still gaining fitness. Nevertheless, it helped the Nizams to cling to their threat and muscle out the win which coach Simon Grayson’s disliking is a deserved one at the end of the day. However, the Blues will not have their chin down as it was only an error that decided the game with their defense not conceding more than once in three games so far. The attack did look blunt although the return of Krishna will allow them to create some sparks in that department. Their opposition on Thursday, Odisha FC conceded five goals so there is every chance Bengaluru FC could increase their scoring number and get back to winning ways. Their narrow 1-0 win against NorthEast United in the opening match remains their only victory this season. However, Grayson will take note of the Durand Cup success they had over the Juggernauts in the quarterfinals when it was Roy Krishna who scored the dramatic winner in the final minute of the extra time with all the goals of the match scored in this period itself in the 2-1 victory. Apart from a 3-1 loss last season, the Blues have stayed unbeaten in four of the five games in this meeting so far. Bengaluru FC will also have the chance to correct their away form in their third consecutive game on the travel of the season having not won in the previous two.
Recent Form
OFC: WLW
BFC: LDW
OFC vs BFC Team News
Michael Soosairaj continues to struggle with fitness as he is yet to gain some playing minutes for the entire year. He remains the only absentee for Josep Gombau’s side with the rest of the squad available for the second home game of the season. Substitute Pedro Martin proved to be the game winner in the last match and can hope to make a place in the starting eleven on Thursday.
Roy Krishna was unavailable for Bengaluru FC in the defeat to Hyderabad FC but is expected to be back for this clash replacing Javier Hernandez in the front three of Sunil Chettri and Sivasakhti. Rest of the starting eleven should remain intact with Prabir Das replacing Namgyal Bhutia in the right wing-back spot. Striker Prince Ibarra remains out with an injury.
OFC vs BFC Predicted Lineups
OFC: Amrinder Singh, Shubham Sarangi, Osama Malik, Carlos Delgado, Sahil Panwar, Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, Saul Crespo, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Diego Mauricio, Nanda Kumar
BFC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Alan Costa, Sandesh Jhingan, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Prabir Das, Bruno Ramires, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Naorem Roshan Singh, Sivasakthi Narayanan, Sunil Chhetri, Roy Krishna
OFC vs BFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Gurpreet Singh (8.5)
DEF: Roshan (8.5), Delgado (7), Costa (9), Panwar (8.5)
MID: Vanmalsawma (8), Malik (7.5), Ramires (8.5), Crespo (8)
FW: Mauricio (8.5), Krishna (9)
Vice-captain: Diego Mauricio
Captain: Roy Krishna
