Bengaluru aim to consolidate
Bengaluru FC will be eager to continue their winning run and consolidate their position at the top when they take on a defensive Chennaiyin FC in an Indian Super League match here on Sunday. Bengaluru have garnered 12 points by scoring 13 goals from five matches with one loss, while Chennai are placed third with nine points in five matches after having lost two matches.
The hosts are coming into the game with loads of confidence as they won their last two away matches, beating NorthEast United (1-0) and Pune FC (3-1).
However, Bengaluru coach Albert Roca would not take Chennai lightly as the rival team is good at scoring goals from setpiece situations.
Bengaluru, adept in set-piece situations, would look to test the Chennaiyin defence, especially with Miku being the cynosure of the strike force. He has scored six goals so far, two of them coming against Mumbai.
Much also is expected from star striker Emiliano Alfaro and captain Sunil Chhetri, who has scored two goals this season.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who was suspended for two matches after receiving a red card against FC Goa, will lend solidity to the hosts’ last line of defence.
Meanwhile, Chennaiyin are coming into the match on the back of a 0-1 loss to Mumbai FC.
Chennaiyin FC head coach John Gregory would hope star player Jeje Lalpekhlua leads the attack well, especially after scoring a brace in one of the matches.
He would also want to see Raphael Augusto and Henrique Sereno wear the goal-scoring boots, the latter being a dangerous proposition at set pieces.
Chennaiyin have been defensively solid since conceding three goals in one half in their opening match against FC Goa. Since then, they have conceded three goals in four games.
BANGALORE: