Bengaluru FC locks horns with Odisha FC for an epic clash in the third edition of the Hero Super Cup final with the winners taking on Gokulam Kerala FC in a playoff match to enter the group stages of the 2023/24 AFC Cup.
BFC vs OFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 21 April 2023
Time: 19:00 (IST)
Venue: EMS Stadium, Kozhikode
BFC vs OFC Match Preview
It always seemed the occasion was made for Bengaluru FC to reach yet another competition final and they did not disappoint. Two second-half goals from Jayesh Rane, who came on for the injured Javi Hernandez before the break and Sunil Chhetri sealed a 2-0 victory over an ambitious Jamshedpur FC team in the semi-finals. The Spaniard’s withdrawal was the only frustrating part of the sublime win but Simon Grayson wishes he could be back for what will be the team’s third straight cup final. Having won the Durand last year and reaching the ISL final this season, the Blues will be looking to add the Super Cup for the second time with the reward of the AFC Cup group stage up for grabs. Having kept a clean sheet in two of the four games and not conceding more than once, Gurpreet made sure their tag of the best defense in the competition remain intact with two big saves in the first half of the match to motivate the Blues to finish off the job later. With the team looking as solid as ever under the Englishman, Bengaluru FC are hopeful to add another trophy to their locker on Tuesday. They were at this stage in the inaugural edition back in 2018 defeating East Bengal 4-1 so the experience is needy even though the squad has changed a lot since then.
While the Blues has enjoyed being in the final of many contests including the AFC Cup back in 2016, Odisha FC will have the first test to be in a major competition showpiece. Their story has been no less glamorous in the Super Cup as they first topped a challenging group consisting of former ISL winners Hyderabad FC and a plucky East Bengal side before overtaking a spirited NorthEast United team in the semifinals. The Juggernauts were forced to come from behind when Wilmar Jordan gave the opposition the lead only two minutes from kick-off. Nandha Kumar Sekar with his third goal of the competition brought his side level and then got his fourth past the hour-mark. Diego Mauricio then made sure of his side’s place in the final with an 86th-minute strike, his third goal in four matches. Clifford Miranda did a wonderful job in a short period of time to take the club to the final of the competition and with Sergio Lobera pending to be announced as head coach, it will be huge for Odisha FC to land the silverware at this moment. Holding the chance to go to the AFC Cup as well, the juggernauts wish their in-form forwards to breach the rigid defense of Bengaluru FC to grab the prize.
Recent Form (Super Cup)
BFC: WDWD
OFC: WWWD
BFC vs OFC Team News
Bengaluru FC's main concern will be Javi Hernandez’s fitness before the match with goal-scorer in the last game, Jayesh Rane is ready to step up if the former Odisha FC man can’t make it due to his back problem. Grayson is likely to stick by the three-man defense of Namgyal Bhutia, Sandesh Jhingan and Naorem Roshan from the semifinals while all three of the forwards Roy Krishna, Sivasakthi Narayanan and captain Sunil Chhetri will start the showpiece.
Meanwhile, Odisha FC is clear on the injury front with Miranda sticking with the same eleven in the win over the Highlanders in the semis. Nandha Kumar Sekar and Diego Mauricio have scored a combined seven goals for their side with midfielder Victor Rodriguez chipping in with two. This strike force has been the joint third-best in the contest but the forwards sharing the most amount of goals than others.
BFC vs OFC Predicted Lineups
BFC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Namgyal Bhutia, Sandesh Jhingan, Naorem Roshan; Rohit Kumar, Javi Hernandez, Bruno Edgar, Suresh Wangjam; Roy Krishna, Sivasakthi Narayanan, Sunil Chhetri
OFC: Amrinder Singh; Narender Gahlot, Carlos Delgado, Omar Malik, Sahil Panwar; Victor Rodriguez, Princeton Rebello, Thoiba Moirangthem; Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Diego Mauricio, Nandha Kumar Sekar
BFC vs OFC Head to head
BFC won - 8
Drawn - 1
OFC won - 4
(In all competitions)
BFC vs OFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Gurpreet (8.5)
DEF: Bhutia (8), Delgado (7.5), Jhingan (8), Roshan (8.5)
MID: V Rodriguez (9), Javi (9), Sekar (9)
FW: Krishna (9), Mauricio (9), Chhetri (8.5)
Vice-captain: Javi Hernandez
Captain: Nandha Kumar Sekar
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
