Bengaluru FC aims to enter the playoff places with a win against their closest challengers Chennaiyin FC in the Southern derby at the Kanteerava Stadium.
The Blues thumped lowly Jamshedpur FC 3-0 to make it three wins in their last three games while Marina Machans put up a resilient defensive display in the 0-0 draw against ATK Mohun Bagan.
BFC vs CFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2023
Time: 17:30 (IST)
Venue: Shree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore
BFC vs CFC Match Preview
Simon Grayson seems to have found his ideal eleven and system to work with Bengaluru FC as the three consecutive wins in the league suggest. The Blues have never found such winning momentum this season and they want to hold it for as long as possible to get among the top six. Starting 2023 with a 2-1 triumph over NorthEast United, the manager decided to tweak the team’s formation and personnel with an instant impact. Bengaluru FC beat playoff rivals 3-1 with the team scoring three goals for the first time this season and then thrashed Jamshedpur FC 3-0. Roy Krishna broke his long-standing scoreless streak against the Juggernauts, carrying it in the win last week with midfielder Rohit Kumar scoring for consecutive games and forward Sivasakhti also getting into the act. Javi Hernandez chipped in with two assists. A winning start to the new year has closed down the gap with the playoff spot to three points. The Blues will overtake sixth-placed Odisha FC with a win and hope the Juggernauts lose to ATK Mohun Bagan in fifth to retain the spot at least for a week. Breaking Chennaiyin FC’s solid defense will be quite a task though also seeing the side’s admirable mentality in coming from behind with a man down to draw 1-1 in the earlier clash this season.
Chennaiyin FC claimed a point out of ATK Mohun Bagan at home in the goalless draw with a brilliant defensive display. With this result, Thomas Brdaric’s side have drawn in every game of 2023 so far and have not won since the 7-3 victory against bottom-placed NorthEast United in December last year. Those share points have come against Jamshedpur FC and last season’s ISL champions Hyderabad FC before this so the German will not be disappointed yet demand more from his side. In the last game, the Marina Machans could not make a way out to score goals as opposition keeper Vishal Kaith was in fine form making six saves. This is also the first time they failed to score after 10 games. With three playoff opposition to face in as many matches, Chennaiyin FC will like to take positive results from each to get them closer to the top six. Currently, a five-point gap separates them. Marina Machans face a tough test against Bengaluru FC in the Southern derby with their forwards being the main concern for them to handle. Chennaiyin FC also have not won against the Blues in seven meetings since 2019. They have lost in three battles in that period including a heavy 3-0 and a 4-2 loss last season. However, a completely different game will be played this Saturday.
Recent Form
BFC: WWWLL
CFC: DDDLD
BFC vs CFC Team News
Bengaluru FC have no unavailability problems in the squad as they look to keep their starting lineup intact which comfortably won at Jamshedpur. That means Sunil Chhetri will begin from the bench again with Sivasakhti and Roy Krishna creating an ideal scoring partnership up front. The three-at-the-back system with wing-backs bombing forward is doing wonders for the Blues and it will stay the same in the next match.
Coach Thomas Brdaric and Nasser El Khayati are edging closer towards full fitness but both need a final session to make themselves available for the game this weekend. El Khayati still has not had a full training session with the team so rushing the Dutch back into the squad will be a risk. There are no other concerns in the squad.
BFC vs CFC Predicted Lineups
BFC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Alan Costa, Sandesh Jhingan, Parag Srivas; Prabir Das, Suresh Singh, Javi Hernandez, Rohit Kumar, Roshan Singh; Roy Krishna, Sivasakhti Narayanan
CFC: Samik Mitra; Ajith Kumar, Fallou Diagne, Vafa Hakhamaneshi, Aakash Sangwan; Jiteshwor Singh, Anirudh Thapa; Ninthoi Meetei, Julius Duker, Vincy Barretto; Petar Sliskovic
BFC vs CFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Gurpreet Singh (8.5)
DEF: Prabir (7), Costa (7.5), Ajith (7.5)
MID: Javi (9), R Kumar (6.5), Duker (8.5), Barretto (7.5)
FW: Sivasakhti (7.5), Sliskovic (9), Krishna (9)
Vice-captain: Javi Hernandez
Captain: Petar Sliskovic
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
