Carles Cuadrat’s Blues Face High-Flying Mumbai City FC As League Campaign Enters Second Half

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC will look to extend their unbeaten run to ten games as they host an upbeat Mumbai City FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Sunday. Having returned from Guwahati with a point courtesy an injury-time goal from Chencho Gyeltshen, Carles Cuadrat will look to begin the second half of the League campaign with a strong performance.

“My players and staff have been working really hard to arrive at the crucial moments in each game. In football, there is always area for improvement and we are working together to find a way to attack against teams that like to be physical and defend,” Cuadrat said, addressing the media on the eve of the game.

Mumbai, who have strung together an unbeaten run of six games, the longest in the history of the club, will look to carry their form to the Fortress on Sunday. After a 5-0 humbling at the hands of FC Goa in October, Jorge Costa’s side have claimed maximum points in five games since, including a 2-0 win over defending champions Chennaiyin FC on Thursday, to find themselves just three points away from the Blues who occupy top spot, having played a game more than Cuadrat’s side.

“It is a challenge to face teams that are placed second, but it is one we are looking forward to. Every team comes here with the intention to win and it makes for an exciting contest. We are taking the League one game at a time and the plan is to tackle these two home games and to do everything we can to reach the playoffs,” the Spaniard added.

Sunday’s clash will also witness the return of former Bengaluru players Amrinder Singh, Subhasish Bose and Joyner Lourenco, who made the switch to Mumbai at the end of last season. The Blues have their own share of former Mumbai men in skipper Sunil Chhetri, Boithang Haokip and Udanta Singh, who have previously appeared for the Islanders.

Bengaluru fielded a starting eleven that shaped up differently against NorthEast United in Guwahati on Wednesday, with Sunil Chhetri the lone striker in a 4-1-4-1 formation, and it remains to be seen what Cuadrat resorts to, ahead of the clash against a physical Mumbai City FC.

Mumbai coach Jorge Costa will look to the attacking pair of Modou Sougou and Rafael Bastos for the goals tomorrow, with the duo having found the back of the net six times this season. Mumbai’s backline will also be a tough one for the Blues to break down, having kept six clean sheets this season, the most by any team in the League.

The game kicks off at 7.30 pm and will be telecast live on the STAR Sports network, HotStar, Colors Kannada Cinema and JioTV.