Mumbai City, Bengaluru meet in key contest

Since going down to NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) in its opener, Sergio Lobera-coached Mumbai City has picked up 19 points from seven unbeaten matches. MCFC is currently second on the table, a point behind leader ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB), while Bengaluru is fifth with 12 points from eight games.

“BFC is a very competitive and compact team. It will be difficult to find spaces in its half. We need to manage the situation well as the upcoming match will be different from the last two games – against Hyderabad FC (HFC) and Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC),” said Spaniard Lobera in the pre-match press conference.

“We need to focus on every game. We have to take it game-by-game. We want to win and we don’t feel pressure. We are enjoying our style and playing good football,” added Lobera, who doesn’t have the best of record against BFC. Mumbai City’s opponent Bengaluru comes into the clash on the back of successive defeats against ATKMB and Jamshedpur FC (JFC).

“In the last two games, the team tried to create chances but lost some dynamism. We are working to get goals from different players. We had a week’s time to prepare for the game and will once again fight for three points,” said BFC boss Carles Cuadrat.

Bengaluru will be without towering midfielder Erik Paartalu, who is suspended for the fixture for accumulating four yellow cards.