A long wait comes to an end when Bengaluru FC at last host Mohun Bagan in the 2017 I-League in a round fourteen encounter in the Garden City on Saturday.
The matchup has proved to be the marquee clash in the Indian domestic circuit in the last three seasons and after cancellation of the first leg due to a clash of fixtures with Asian competitions, the second leg couldn't have come at a better time - just before the international break.
Bengaluru FC, who returned to winning days last weekend after going eight games winless in the I-League, only managed to draw against Chennai City midweek. Even the recruitment of Marjan Jugovic midway hrough the season to bolster the attacking arsenal of the Blues failed to bear fruit in the last two games.
Albert Roca has switched to a standard 4-man backline after he saw his plans of implementing a three-man defence fail miserably.
Roca: Bengaluru need to create more chances
Furthermore, the numero unos of both Bengaluru and Mohun Bagan, Amrinder Singh and Debjit Majumder respectively, are unavailable and it will be a real opportunity for the deputies to make their cases for the future.
The Blues will be desperate to keep their faithful interested as they are all but out of the title race. The big name players John Johnson and Sunil Chhetri have been far from their best and Eugeneson Lyngdoh still does not find a place in Roca's plans.
Youngsters Daniel Lalhlimpuia and Udanta Singh have to step up as they face the toughest test in the season so far against title favourites Bagan.
After going nine games unbeaten, the last week has been anything but kind for The Mariners.
Sen prioritises I-League over AFC Cup
A loss at Goa against Churchill Brothers and a last minute equaliser to save the blushes against Mumbai FC at home rounded off a week of lows compounded by injuries to Darryl Duffy and Majumder.
The only reason Mohun Bagan lost the trophy last season was because of a shaky and leaky defence and things haven't picked in any way.
The defensive partnership of Eduardo Ferreira and Anas Edathodika has not blossomed as much The Green and Maroons anticipated. In fact, in only two of the games the pair have featured in, have they managed to keep a clean sheet.
Sanjoy Sen has always been portrayed as someone who gets the better of foreign coaches and so he has shown during his rivalry with Ashley Westwood. The Kolkata giants surprisingly have never lost at the Kanteerava and would be hopeful of taking the first step towards emulating their 'double' over Bengaluru last season.
Jeje Lalpekhlua, who has been off-colour, could lose his place after Balwant Singh's enterprising displays if Darryl Duffy returns to the lineup. It has been the Indian contingent who have been exemplary for Sen's side with Pritam Kotal, time and again, proving his worth as the nation's primary right back and Sen does need to give Prabir Das a start as his pace and vision has been the binding unit behind Bagan's attack.
Much is expected from Sony Norde and he did show some spark in the last game but he needs support to help his cause after injuries have hampered the Haitian ability to spew magic for The Mariners.
Mohun Bagan just cannot afford to drop points with Aizawl and East Bengal pulling away at the top. Meanwhile, a top-three finish will be the least Bengaluru will be hoping for and a win on Saturday will go a long way towards realising that.
Gear up as we face the first instalment of what will be four games between these two sides, spread across two competitions in the next two months. For now, the kick-off is at 19:05 p.m. at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
TEAM NEWS
BENGALURU F.C.
Injured: Amrinder Singh, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai
Doubtful: Marjan Jugovic, Rino Anto
Suspended: None
Key Players: Cameron Watson, Sunil Chhetri
MOHUN BAGAN A.C.
Injured: Debjit Majumder, Raju Gaikwad, Kinshuk Debnath, Pronay Halder, Kean Lewis
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Key Players: Sony Norde, Balwant Singh