ISL 2023-24: Odisha FC aim comeback against Bengaluru FC

Both clubs will be looking to win their second game of the ISL campaign.

Odisha FC will host Bengaluru FC in the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL 2023-24) fixture at the Kalinga Stadium on 31 October 2023. Having failed to win in the previous gameweek, both outfits will have three points on their minds as they look to hit the next gear and pick up some momentum.

Odisha FC lost to Kerala Blasters by a 2-1 scoreline away from home after leading through Diego Mauricio’s strike. The striker had his penalty saved against the Yellow Army later in the contest which was a turning point in the game. As for Bengaluru FC, they played a goalless draw with FC Goa who were sensational, defensively.

The upcoming game between Odisha FC and Bengaluru FC is set to be extremely exciting as both clubs won’t settle for anything less than a win. Here is what to look out for from the clash:

The Stakes

Odisha FC

Odisha FC need to start putting points on the board. The club recruited ambitiously and needs to walk the talk in the ISL. Sergio Lobera is under pressure after winning only one of his first four league games with the Kalinga Warriors. 

Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC have started the season slowly as well. The Blues have only one win in their opening four fixtures in the ISL. Last season’s runners-up for the ISL Trophy are feeling the pressure as the fans are losing patience with the inconsistency shown by the side. A win is all they need to turn things around!

Injury & Team News

Both Odisha FC and Bengaluru FC are expected to have a fit roster as no injuries have been reported from either camp.

Head-to-Head

Total Matches Played - 12

Odisha FC wins - 4

Bengaluru FC wins - 7

Draws - 1

Predicted Line-ups

Odisha FC (4-3-3)

Amrinder Singh (GK), Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Ahmed Jahouh, Puitea, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Aniket Jadhav, Michael Soosairaj, Diego Mauricio

Bengaluru FC (4-3-3)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Namgyal Bhutia, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Slavko Damjanovic, Naorem Roshan Singh, Javi Hernandez, Kezia Veendorp, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Sivasakthi Narayanan, Halicharan Narzary, Sunil Chhetri

Players to Watch

Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC)

Diego Mauricio is definitely the most lethal forward in the Odisha FC ranks. The striker scored an opportunistic goal in the previous fixture against Kerala Blasters. His penalty however, was saved by Sachin Suresh which will certainly push the forward to make amends in the upcoming fixture against Bengaluru FC. He has two goals in the league but a 40% goal conversion rate suggests he could have bagged more.

Naorem Roshan Singh (Bengaluru FC)

Roshan Singh was an absolute menace for FC Goa defenders who could not contain him from delivering cross after cross. The winger was highly rated for his performance against the Gaurs. His quality in set-piece situations is a major attacking asset for Simon Grayson’s men. Furthermore, he won all of his ground and aerial duels proving why he is one of BFC’s most reliable players. 

Did You Know?

• Bengaluru FC have scored 20 goals while Odisha FC have scored 14 in their last 12 meetings.
• There have been no draws between OFC and BFC in the last five meetings.
• Javi Hernandez of BFC played for Odisha FC during the 2021-22 season, scoring six goals and making six assists in 19 appearances.

Telecast

The kick-off for the Odisha FC vs Bengaluru FC game is at 8:00 PM IST on 31 October 2023. The match will be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The live broadcast and live streaming of the game will be available on the Sports18 Network (Sports18 1 Channel/VH1 Channel) and JioCinema app, respectively. Viewers from abroad can watch the game on OneFootball.