CHENNAI (India): Reigning champions Bengaluru FC will take on a spirited Chennaiyin FC side in the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Sunday.
The Bangalore side recently returned with a 1-0 win over Paro FC 1-0 in the first leg of an AFC Cup Preliminary Stage Two match.
A win will guarantee Bengaluru a place in the playoffs for a third season on the trot.
“It’s clear that there’s a new spirit in the Chennaiyin team since the new coach came in. There’s more creativity in their side and they are scoring a lot of goals and defending well,” said Bengaluru coach Carles Cuadrat.
“They’re in a good dynamic side at the moment. Every time you win a game you are that much closer to losing one,” Cuadrat told the club’s website.
Owen Coyle’s men are on a run of four consecutive wins, their latest a 6-3 result over Kerala Blasters last week.
With three points seeming a compulsion for both sides, Cuadrat said that it bodes for an exciting encounter.
“They are playing for a spot in the playoffs. We want the points as much as them because we are fighting to finish on the top of the table. We are not going to rotate our players,” said Cuadrat.
The Blues will be without Brazilian midfielders Raphael Augusto, Eugeneson Lyngdoh and defender Rino Anto, who continue their return from injury.
Harmanjot Khabra serves a suspension after picking up his fourth yellow card of the campaign against Hyderabad FC.
However, Rahul Bheke makes a return to the squad after having sat out with a strained groin.
While the Blues do boast the best defensive record in the tournament, Cuadrat’s men will do well to deal with the advances of Lithuanian striker Nerijus Valskis, who leads the top-scorer chart with 12 goals.
