Chennaiyin challenge for Bengaluru in ISL final

Bengaluru FC is the overwhelming favourite to defeat Chennaiyin FC in the final at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. But, Bengaluru fans will know that a home team has never won the ISL final; Goa (2015) and Kerala (2016) leaving the field with massive heartaches. 

Added to that is another statistic that a team which has finished on top of the league table too has never gone on to become champion in the ISL since inception in 2014. 

Nothing, however, will hold back the home fans in this South Indian Derby. They will occupy every available seat at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium and cheer the ‘Blues’ till the final whistle, hoping it finishes the tournament like it had started at home: on a dominating note. 

“We started (our preparations) earlier than other teams because of the AFC Cup. We have tried to succeed. There is one more step to do right now but until now I am happy for everyone. The fans have always been behind us. I am not expecting an easy game. It will be the most difficult game of the season,” said Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca. 

Chennaiyin FC will also fancy its chances, having defeated Bengaluru FC 2-1 at its own den, thanks to a winner from Dhanpal Ganesh in the dying moments during the league stage. John Gregory’s side has given a good account of itself and proved that it knows how to win matches that matter. 

Against FC Goa in the semi-finals, CFC negated the threat of Goa’s dangerous strike pair of Ferran Corominas and Manuel Lanzarote and will hope to do the same against Sunil Chhetri and Miku, who have combined to score 27 goals. 

“We are going into this game with a lot of confidence. We know that we have won there before, and we are not the only team (to defeat BFC at home). We have utmost respect for everything it has achieved. We are Chennaiyin. We are not afraid of anyone,” said Gregory during the prematch media interaction.