ISL 2022-23 Playoffs: Mumbai City vs Bengaluru FC Highlights

7:00 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the Mumbai City vs Bengaluru FC match in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23. The kick-off is just half an hour away! I’m your host Aishwarya Chakraborty, 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.

ISL Playoffs: Mumbai City vs Bengaluru FC - Build-up to the game

The first semi-final of the 2022-23 season is set to take place at the Mumbai Football Arena on 7th February 2023. Bengaluru FC enter the fixture on the back of nine straight wins in a row and will play the two-legged tie after beating Kerala Blasters 1-0 in the eliminator.

Mumbai City qualified for the semi-final after finishing as Shield Winners, topping the table with a record 46 points in group stages on the back of an 18-match unbeaten run. They look like a well-oiled unit under Des Buckingham, having scored 54 goals in the league stage.

Mumbai City will aim to become the first team to do the double (lift the Indian Super League and Shield) twice. They first achieved the feat in 2020-21. While they enter the knockouts following back-to-back defeats, Mumbai will want to get one over Bengaluru when it matters the most. It was Bengaluru who handed Mumbai their first taste of defeat this season with a 2-1 result at the Kanteerava.

A dream run to the semi-final after being written off towards the end of 2022 has brought brimming smiles back for Bengaluru FC. Simon Grayson’s men have scripted an amazing comeback in the latter half of the season and will be desperate to hold on to their win streak. The underdog tag could benefit them and some away goals can pressurize the Islanders in the second leg.