Shillong, Feb 21: NorthEast United FC are set to host Bengaluru FC here at the JN Stadium in the Indian Super League 2024-25 today. Kick-off will be at 7:30PM.
The ISL thus returns to the capital of Meghalaya after the first-ever league game was held there during the fixture between the Highlanders and Mumbai City FC earlier this month, which the latter won.
Bengaluru have been winless in their last four games on the road, including two defeats on the bounce. However, the Blues have had a promising goal-scoring season, having scored 36 goals, their second-highest in ISL history, with Sunil Chhetri leading the charts, courtesy of his 11 strikes.
The Blues will be buoyed by the fact that NorthEast United have not won against them in their previous five meetings. The two sides have played three draws in a row and another stalemate would mark the third time the Highlanders do so four straight times against a single opponent in the ISL.
NEUFC also have their home record to protect, since they last suffered a 2-0 defeat here against Mumbai City and the previous time they faced losses in consecutive matches in their backyard, in a single season, was in February 2023. Further, the Blues have never failed to score on the road against the Highlanders, netting eight times in six matches, and a strike in this encounter will mark their longest such sequence against any opponent.
Both these teams are firmly in contention to qualify for the playoffs, as NorthEast United are positioned fourth with 32 points from 21 games, whereas Bengaluru have garnered 31 points from 20 encounters and are sixth in the table. The tussle is tough with only three points separating the Highlanders from the seventh-placed Odisha FC (29).
NorthEast United coach Juan Pedro Benali asked his side to defend collectively in the coming match. “The whole team needs to defend well because we are playing against a strong side. All of their players are dangerous and we need to take care of that,” he said.
Bengaluru gaffer Gerard Zaragoza lamented his team’s form last month, but expressed hope following their 3-0 win in the last game against Jamshedpur FC. “We were not doing well in January and we were not consistent. We bettered our performance in the last game though. We kept a clean sheet and that should be the way we need to play to arrive in the playoffs,” he said.
(ISL Media photo)
