PANAJI (Goa): Bengaluru FC will face FC Goa in their opening game of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) campaign, set to take place on November 22 at Fatorda Stadium, the club said on Friday.
The season, which begins on November 20 with an opening-day clash between ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters FC, will be the Blues’ fourth in the tournament, having reached the semifinal on all three previous occasions and the final twice.
“We have a lot of respect for FC Goa. They have assembled a team to try and be competitive on the continental stage in the Asian Champions League. Their new recruits have joined to take them a step ahead, if that’s possible, in being competitive and strong as a team. It will be a very exciting game and it is one with a lot of stories already between both clubs in previous clashes,” said Head Coach Carles Cuadrat.
The Blues hold a superior record against the Gaurs, having beaten them on five of the seven occasions the two sides have met. FC Goa’s only win came in the first clash between the two sides, a 4-3 result at the Fatorda in November, 2017.
Bengaluru remain at the Fatorda for their second fixture, this time a home clash against Hyderabad FC on November 28 before heading to the GMC Stadium in Bambolim to face Chennaiyin FC in an away game on December 4. The Blues’ fourth and fifth fixtures are against NorthEast United FC (Dec 8) and Kerala Blasters (Dec 13).
“The calendar sees us face four teams that have started a new project with a completely different core of players and new coaches, in the first four rounds. This means it will be very difficult to know what to expect from them.
“It is clear that FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United have made an effort to add strong foreigners to their squad, so I am sure they are going to be tough opponents. But tactically speaking, we will have to wait until we will see them perform in the first rounds of the competition. What is sure is that we have an exciting season ahead for all of us,” Cuadrat added.
