ISL 2022-23: Bengaluru FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan

7:00 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the Bengaluru FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan match in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23. The kick-off is just half an hour away! I’m your host Amanul Akhtar, and I’ll be keeping you company through what promises a fascinating evening of football. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

Bengaluru FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan: Build-up

A rivalry that runs back to the I-League days for both teams, Bengaluru FC and ATK Mohun Bagan have always promised fireworks every time they clashed. Both have endured rocky starts to the ISL 2022-23 season.

ATK Mohun Bagan have struggled to stitch a sequence of victories together, while Bengaluru FC ended a run of four straight defeats with a 2-0 victory against FC Goa.

Securing a valuable three points on the road after a 4-0 demolition at the hands of Mumbai City augurs well for Bengaluru’s attempt to climb up the table. Injury woes and a rough fixture run made the initial bit of the season very challenging for the Durand Cup 2022 champions, but now is the moment to build some momentum if BFC want to challenge for a playoff spot.

The Mariners’ last four results read: draw, win, loss, win. Marred by inconsistent displays and an over-reliance on individual talent, ATK Mohun Bagan are not the well-oiled machine they were in previous seasons. They are fourth on the table with 13 points but with the chasing pack very close behind, the aim will be to build some points buffer.

Joni Kauko being ruled out of the league with an ACL injury is a big blow for ATKMB. Manvir Singh has made the travelling squad but came off with an injury in the 1-0 victory against Hyderabad last week.

Bengaluru FC are carrying a few niggles but no long-term absentees. They are looking to replace Prince Ibara with 29-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder Pablo Perez, according to Spanish reports.