I-League: Wobbling Bengaluru FC takes on in-form Aizawl FC

A combination of injuries, suspensions and luck has seen Bengaluru take only two points from its last four games, as a result of which the defending champion sits fifth on the I-League table.

Published : Feb 14, 2017 21:41 IST

Bengaluru FC (BFC) captain Sunil Chhetri celebrates with a teammate after scoring a goal against Minerva Punjab FC during their Hero I League football match at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru on February 11, 2017.
Bengaluru FC (BFC) captain Sunil Chhetri celebrates with a teammate after scoring a goal against Minerva Punjab FC during their Hero I League football match at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru on February 11, 2017.
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Bengaluru FC (BFC) captain Sunil Chhetri celebrates with a teammate after scoring a goal against Minerva Punjab FC during their Hero I League football match at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru on February 11, 2017.

A wobbling Bengaluru FC will face a tough test when it meets an in-form Aizawl FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Wednesday. A combination of injuries, suspensions and luck has seen Bengaluru take only two points from its last four games, as a result of which the defending champion sits fifth on the I-League table.

Albert Roca, though, was confident that his side would soon emerge from this little slump. "We’ve been playing some good football and it’s only a matter of putting to bed the chances we are creating," the Bengaluru head coach said.

"Against Minerva, we were plain unlucky. But that’s football. We’ve picked ourselves up and are focused on the challenge that Aizawl will throw at us. They are a team that’s high on confidence and are playing at home which means everything is against us. It’s going to be a test of our character and I’m sure the boys will be up to it.”

Having played a game more than Bengaluru, Aizawl is third on the table with 16 points. Khalid Jamil's men have been tough and dogged this season, recording their biggest win last weekend when they came from a goal down to beat Churchill Brothers 3-1 at home.

Bengaluru, meanwhile, arrives in the north-east on the back of a frustrating 1-1 draw at home against Minerva Punjab FC, where a late own goal cancelled skipper Sunil Chhetri’s opener, his fourth goal in as many games. Bengaluru will be without foreign centre-backs John Johnson and Juan Gonzalez, who are still serving suspensions.

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