Bengaluru FC faces rivals Kerala Blasters in a rematch of the controversial ISL playoff clash which either of the sides has to win to stand a chance for the semifinals of the Hero Super Cup 2023.
BFC vs KBFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 14 April 2023
Time: 20:30 (IST)
Venue: EMS Stadium, Kozhikode
BFC vs KBFC Match Preview
After a rather surprising draw against Sreenidi Deccan in the opening group stage match, Bengaluru FC got their first victory in the Super Cup this season beating RoundGlass Punjab 2-0. The Blues had to work hard for the win and had to wait at least the 66th minute to break the deadlock through substitute Udanta Singh. Kiram Limbu kept the I-League winners in the game with save after save and also kept out the initial effort from which the winger bundled in the opener from a corner. The Spaniard Javi Hernandez ensured the victory with a last-minute penalty. Simon Grayson’s men are now level with Sreenidi for points as well as the goal difference with four points from first two games. So they need to win their final group game and wish the side from Hyderabad to lose in the all-I-League clash in the simultaneous kick-off to stand a chance for the knockouts. Bengaluru FC have an interesting opponent to face and beat again in rivals Kerala Blasters who made a walkout decision for a controversial free-kick scored by captain Sunil Chhetri in the ISL playoff game last month.
The match is now famous or rather infamous depending on the perspective of the situation Kerala Blasters put themselves in. The Tuskers abandoned the match after understanding the goal will not be overturned sending their opposition to the semifinals of the ISL. Blasters were then fined and had their coach Ivan Vukomanovic banned from the touchline by AIFF for their actions forcing public apologies too. Both have since appealed their punishments. Even though they came out 3-1 winners in their first match back against RoundGlass Punjab, a quality-filled side like Sreenidi Deccan send them crashing down by inflicting a 2-0 defeat in the second group stage game of the Super Cup. KBFC now faces a similar scenario in taking on rivals Bengaluru FC again in the last group game for a possible place in the semifinals. It will be a tough outing for them memories of the previous meeting will flash in their mind. The Yellow Army had to win and wish RoundGlass Punjab does them a favor by winning against Sreenidi in the other match in an engrossing group as it was predicted to be. For all the narratives surrounding it, no need to tell that this clash will be a must-watch.
Recent Form (Super Cup)
BFC: WD
KBFC: LW
BFC vs KBFC Predicted Lineups
BFC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Bruno Ramires, Sandesh Jhingan, Parag Srivas; Namgyal Bhutia, Rohit Kumar, Javi Hernandez, Suresh Wangjam, Roshan Singh; Roy Krishna, Sivasakhti Narayanan
KBFC: Prabhsukhan Gill; Nishu Kumar, Ruivah Hormipam, Marko Leskovic; Ayush Adhikari, Jeakson Singh, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi, Sahal Samad; Rahul KP, Apostolos Giannou, Dimitrios Diamantakos
BFC vs KBFC Head to head
BFC won - 8
Drawn - 2
KBFC won - 3
BFC vs KBFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Gurpreet (8.5)
DEF: Roshan (8.5), Jhingan (7.5), Hormipam (7)
MID: Javi (9), Kaluizhnyi (8.5), Rohit (7.5), Sahal (7.5)
FW: Krishna (9), Diamantakos (8), Sivasakhti (8)
Vice-captain: Ivan Kaliuzhnyi
Captain: Javi Hernandez
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
