"VAN" (Sports Desk - 27.11.2024) :: Bengaluru FC travel to Kolkata to take on Indian Super League debutants Mohammedan Sporting at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday. This is the Blues’ third away fixture of the season, with previous clashes on the road resulting in a draw, a win, and a loss apiece.
“Mohammedan had 20 days to prepare for the game against us. I can see that the coach is working hard on the defensive aspects, and it will not be an easy game. I am confident in my players, and the level of training has been good,” Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza said during the press conference on the eve of the fixture.
Bengaluru FC are currently second on the table on goal difference with 17 points from eight matches and have enjoyed a bright start to the 2024-25 season. Zaragoza’s men will be without the suspended Edgar Mendez against Mohammedan. The Spaniard picked up his fourth yellow card of the season in the Blues’ previous fixture—a feisty 2-2 draw against NorthEast United at the Kanteerava Stadium, which saw the hosts come back from a goal down on two occasions to grab a point.
Ryan Williams marked his return from injury by netting the fastest goal by a substitute this season against the Highlanders, and the Australian winger will be eager to be the point of difference. Argentine Jorge Pereyra Diaz is the cynosure of all eyes, while full-back Mohamed Salah has two assists from four league appearances.
“For the first time, we had six foreigners in the squad. All the six are giving us a lot. The improvement shown by the Indian players is visible. Ryan gives us creativity and pace on the wings. We have a variety of attacking options now,” Zaragoza pointed out.
Mohammedan Sporting sit twelfth with a solitary win from their seven matches. They will be banking on their Spanish forward Alexis Gomez to come up with the goods against Bengaluru, and their defence, marshalled by Frenchman Florent Ogier, can be hard to break down. Lalremsanga Fanai has shone out wide, and the winger scored Mohammedan's first ISL goal in their 1-0 win over Chennaiyin in September.
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