ISL 2021-22: Mumbai City FC aims to get back on winning ways against Bengaluru

Marco Pezzaiuoli’s side might be on a four-game unbeaten run, but there hasn’t been a match in recent memory where it has convinced from start to finish.

Published : Jan 09, 2022 20:58 IST

 Bengaluru FC players celebrates a goal during the match against SC East bengal, which finished in a 1-1 draw.
Bengaluru FC players celebrates a goal during the match against SC East bengal, which finished in a 1-1 draw.
lightbox-info

Bengaluru FC players celebrates a goal during the match against SC East bengal, which finished in a 1-1 draw.

Bengaluru FC will get yet another opportunity to steady a stuttering season when it meets under-pressure Mumbai City FC at the Fatorda Stadium on Monday.

Marco Pezzaiuoli’s side might be on a four-game unbeaten run, but there hasn’t been a match in recent memory where it has convinced from start to finish.

Defending champion Mumbai, after a rollicking start that saw it win five of the opening six games, has lost two and drawn two of its last four, allowing the likes of Hyderabad FC, Jamshedpur FC and ATK Mohun Bagan to catch up.

Both BFC and Mumbai had their previous matches against bottom-placed SC East Bengal and both ended in draws. While it may reflect the Kolkata outfit’s newly found steeliness under interim head coach Renedy Singh, it also points to the state of play at BFC and Mumbai.

While BFC has been increasingly adept at controlling possession, it has struggled to score from open play, with attacking patterns failing to materialise.

READ: Dalima Chhibber: Exposure trips to Brazil, Sweden was a big learning curve before Asian Cup

“We need to get better in the final phase,” Pezzaiuoli said, on match-eve. “We had many good balls in the last third but when you are dominating possession, wingers need to have more quality. The pass to wingers behind the defence was good but we need to bring the ball inside.”

Against Mumbai, it may not have a lion’s share of the ball but the form Des Buckingham’s side is in provides hope. The Englishman has seen his wards concede 10 goals from just three matches before the 0-0 draw against East Bengal. He will also be without midfield lynchpin Ahmed Jahouh, who is suspended.

“Now we need to kick on and make sure we continue with the clean-sheets in the upcoming matches,” Buckingham said, referring to the last draw. “We need to maintain a good defensive shape.”

The way Mumbai has been pulled back after it threatened to run away with the league shows how topsy-turvy the competition has been, with teams routinely cancelling each other out. BFC’s hopes rest on the same, for despite being in the ninth position, a win can catapult the 2018-19 champion within touching distance of a playoff spot.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment