ISL, Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC preview: Rejuvenated BFC look for momentum in top four bid

Bengaluru FC seem to have finally found the right balance. They kept their first clean sheet in11 games in their 2-0 win against SC East Bengal, probably their best and most clinical outing of the season. The Blues also ended their eight-game winless run and will now look to build on these positives when they clash against Chennaiyin FC at the Fatorda Stadium, on Friday.

“There is a lot of positivity now. Players, of course, believe in each other. But now it’s more because of the way we have been playing the last 2-3 games. They have been more compact,” said interim head coach Naushad Moosa.

“After Hyderabad (game), you didn’t see the same mistakes happening in the last game. Everyone was more cautious. Everybody was happy. That is what I see in players,” he said.

Friday’s clash is between a side that is strong at set-pieces and a team that has struggled to defend them. Chennaiyin have conceded eight goals (50% of their total goals) so far from these situations. But Moosa anticipates a tough fixture since the side will have all their foreigners available for selection.

“They suffered because they didn’t have their central defender playing. But for this game, all the foreigners will be available so it won’t be easy,” said Moosa, who added that his team would have to be extra cautious as new Chennaiyin signing Manuel Lanzarote would be available for the clash too.

“We will have to be compact the way we played against East Bengal. Not letting in the penetrating passes in the final third. That will play a very important role in how we defend and not give them scoring opportunities,” he stated.

BFC will miss the services of Rahul Bheke, Juan Gonzalez and Leon Augustin.

Chennaiyin’s misfiring attack has let them down. Coach Csaba Laszlo’s side failed to score in eight games despite creating chances. Laszlo highlighted that concern and urged his side to remain focused ahead of the clash.

“If you want to be in the top four, we have to win the remaining games. These are like five finals and this is what we are working on, to try to win against Bengaluru first. I hope we can show that we can score goals because the problem is that we create a lot of chances but don’t score. We have to be very focused on the game,” said Laszlo.

“We are here to try to win games. I don’t think about my future but I think about the future of the club. I think we have a very difficult game against Bengaluru and my attention is towards preparing the team,” he said.

The top four race is poised finely with three teams level on 22 points and any slip-ups will prove decisive for BFC from here. For CFC, the gap might already be a bit too much at six points but a win would do them a world of good. And with a draw not helping either side, this is a match close to must-win territory.