Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan SG face-off

Bengaluru, PTI: Unbeaten so far in the league, Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant will lock horns in a blockbuster ISL clash here on Saturday, with the two heavyweights of Indian club football looking to consolidate their positions in the pecking order. Bengaluru FC won both their games against East Bengal and Hyderabad FC while Mohun Bagan Super Giant, after sharing the spoils with Mumbai City FC in their opener, returned to winning ways in their last outing against NorthEast United.

BFC are placed second in the standings currently, while Mohun Bagan are holding the fourth position. The Blues have lost only once in their nine home games under the tutelage of Gerard Zaragoza, the only defeat coming in the form of a 0-4 reverse to Mohun Bagan SG last season. The Mariners have scored 43 goals from open play since the start of the previous season, which is the highest in the league and 25 more than Bengaluru FC (18) in that period. Zaragoza's side have won both the games so far in ISL 2024-25.

But they will now face last season's ISL Trophy winners Mohun Bagan, who have conceded multiple goals in their last three fixtures. The Spaniard has the firepower in his bench to impact the game in the final quarter, where the Blues have scored only six goals since the 2023-24 season. He stated, "It's 100% important to have a bench that can change the game. As a coach, it's perfect. The game lasts 90 minutes, and we need players who can play 90 minutes as well as players who can come off the bench and make an impact."