Heavyweights ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC will look to put their home order and get back on track when the two arch-rivals clash in an Indian Super League match here on Thursday. The Mariners are yet to win three matches as they slip to number six in the table, while their rivals from Bengaluru are on a three-match losing streak to be down ninth in the 11-team standings.
In such a situation, both the teams will be desperate to counterattack. It hasn’t been a rough sailing for last season’s finalists ATK Mohun Bagan, who scored eight goals so far, including five in a game against league leaders Mumbai City FC.
ISL 2021-22: House , fixtures , result , Mark sheet , photos
A win will take them into the top four but for that they need their key players firing on all cylinders. Hugo Baumus began his stint with ATKMB by scoring two goals in a 4-2 win against Kerala Blasters on the first day of the new season. Since then, the highly-rated Frenchman has neither scored nor assists.
This is the second time in his ISL career that he has gone without a goal or assist in four straight games and will be looking to regain his momentum. It will be a milestone for their star Fijian shooter Roy Krishna who will become the 21st foreigner to reach the 50 ISL when he takes the field.
“I have the same opinion of Rai Krishna as before. He is one of the best players in ISL.
The task will be a bit tougher for the former champion Blues, who have seen the shadow of their past and scored 10 goals in their five-match winless streak. Their porous defense has scored 12 goals in six matches overall, making it their worst goal ever in the league.
The club has kept a zero clean sheet in their last 10 matches, conceding 21 goals in the process, with India’s No. 1 goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also shown in poor light as the tall patron has been guilty of making mistakes below the bar. The Marco Pezzuoli-coached team has not clicked as a unit and their overseas signings are also not showing the extra spark except for a handful of Clayton Silva and Prince Ibarra.
Brazil forward Silva has been the only ray of light in Bengaluru FC’s disappointing start to the season. He has scored three goals and one assist so far this season and has also created 11 goalscoring opportunities, which is the most in the team.
Sunil Chhetri has also run out of color and the Indian football icon would like to end his barren run in front of the target. “Players are inspired. We had one of the best training sessions today. We deserved to get more points. We need to achieve goals. In football, it’s all about concentration and communication,” Pezzazioli said on the eve of the match.
“It will not be easy against ATK Mohun Bagan. But we will fight for three points,” he concluded.
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