ISL 2024-25: Bengaluru FC Season Review

The Blues fell short in the 2025 ISL Final against the Mariners.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC have experienced one of the greatest heartbreaks among all the clubs this season. The Blues faltered at the final hurdle as they slumped to a 2-1 loss after extra-time against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Despite making a remarkable comeback in the playoffs and storming into the Final, head coach Gerard Zaragoza’s men just couldn’t close the game against Jose Molina’s side.

The club had recruited Gerard Zaragoza to the position of head coach at the beginning of the season. He was part of the 2018-19 title-winning side. The Blues began their tenure under the Spaniard by participating in the 2024 Durand Cup, where they made it all the way to semi-finals before losing to eventual finalists Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

Despite the Cup disappointment, the Blues started the ISL season in fine form, winning five of their first six games. However, the club’s form fluctuated tremendously since that superb start with patches in form underlining the tone of their season.

While there were some wobbly performances, they had a strong finish to the season and sealed third place in the league standings. The Blues then notched an impressive win over Mumbai City FC in the quarterfinals before breaking FC Goa’s hearts at the Fatorda Stadium in the semifinals.

Bengaluru FC’s Performance in the League

• Position at the End of the Season: 3rd
• Number of Games Played: 24
• Victories: 11
• Draws: 5
• Defeats: 8
• Total Goals For: 40
• Total Goals Against: 31
• Overall Points: 38

Top Performers

Sunil Chhetri

The 40-year-old Indian icon entered the ISL regular season in splendid form, having scored three goals and contributed two assists in five games. He was the club’s top scorer in the league with 12 goals and two assists in 24 matches. It was, individually, his most productive season since making his ISL debut.

Chhetri showed he still has the poacher instincts and can deliver the goals in key moments to help his side win from impossible situations. Despite not being a starter anymore, he continued to deliver the goods whenever his number was summoned by Zaragoza with a great selfless attitude.

Chhetri was able to replicate his heroics in the last gasp-winning goal he scored against FC Goa in the second leg of the semifinals. However, the Bengaluru FC captain failed to replicate his heroics against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the final, ending his dream of lifting his second ISL title.

Edgar Mendez

The 35-year-old Spanish forward arrived at Bengaluru FC this season with a huge chip on his shoulder. He was an influential player in the Blues XI, which ranked among the top five clubs to have scored the most goals. Mendez was a tactical challenge for any ISL defender due to his physicality and ability to run past his markers.

His finishing and decision-making proved to be the turning point for the team on many occasions, notably in the quarterfinals against Mumbai City FC and the semi-finals first leg against FC Goa. Despite Bengaluru’s struggles in the Final, Mendez was one of the bright spots for his team with his work rate and physical play.

His contributions were invaluable for Bengaluru FC. With his experience and goal-scoring ability, the club will be trying to tie him down for the next season as they look to reach the ISL Final once again next season.

ALSO READ: ISL 2024-25 : List of individual award winners

Underperformer of the Season

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

The Bengaluru FC shot-stopper, a former key member of the 2017-18 title-winning side, had a season to forget between the sticks. Gurpreet was in imperious form at the start of the season. However, made some costly mistakes post-game during week six of the season. He wasn’t able to replicate his usual form.

While his lack of confidence was evident, he conceded goals which turned Bengaluru FC wins into losses. During the regular season, Gurpreet conceded 31 goals, highlighting the issue that sticks out for the Blues.

Poor decision-making, inconsistency, and individual errors made by Gurpreet led to Zaragoza even dropping him for their second-choice goalkeeper. While he came back in superb form in the playoffs, his performance in the final still leaves question marks on whether he is the solution for Zaragoza next season.

With his wobbly form on the big occasions, Bengaluru FC might be looking for a new shot-stopper ahead of next season.

Top Performances of the Season

Bengaluru FC were able to put in a few memorable performances on their way to the 2025 ISL Final:

Bengaluru FC 3-0 Mohun Bagan Super Giant

Bengaluru FC 5-0 Mumbai City FC

Bengaluru FC 2-0 FC Goa

Managerial Report Card

Bengaluru FC’s coaching situation was steady this season, with Gerard Zaragoza looking to have ensured himself another season. The Spaniard has certainly made an impact on the team. He deserves another shot at guiding them next season with impressive wins over FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

While he was unable to mould a team as a united unit during the mid-season mark, he adapted to challenging situations and made some bold calls during games. Staying loyal to his 4-3-3 system, Zaragoza was not afraid to make changes to the starting XI.

While initially those changes paid off, his tinkering costed team results during the mid-season. Although they managed to correct the course and qualified for the playoffs, Bengaluru FC could have clinched a semi-final berth during the 2024-25 season.

The club’s management will be hoping to build on the positives shown under Zaragoza ahead of next season. A proper backing with the feedback from the Spaniard will help Bengaluru FC build on the foundations of this season. They might even replicate the formula adopted by Mohun Bagan, who lost the 2024 Final and built on the lessons learned before winning the 2025 Final this season.

Lessons Learned from the Season

Squad depth will be essential going forward. Bengaluru FC suffered whenever key players were unavailable. The lack of quality backups hurt the team, especially at right-back, making it clear that a strong backup will help their case for next season.

While the team has strong reliance on the youth products from the academy, they will need to dive deeper into the free-agent market ahead of next season. A proper recruitment plan will help Bengaluru FC avoid the drop-off that many sides experience after going all the way to the final.

Another would be their approach to games away from home and building a winning mentality in tough game situations. While Sunil Chhetri bailed them out in those challenging situations, the Indian icon’s status for next season remains a question for the club.

Fan’s View

The club’s fans, known for their passionate support, will be proud of the team’s performances in the final. While they did falter at the final hurdle, the West Block Blues have renewed hope of contending ahead of next season.The demand from the supporters will now be to contend for both the ISL shield and the Cup.

As the season progressed, attendance at the stadiums only grew larger, showcasing the lovely support that the players enjoy at each home game.

What’s next for Bengaluru FC?

Bengaluru FC need to level up ahead of next season with an aim towards contending on all fronts. A strong transfer window, a well-planned preseason, and a more strategic approach in away games will be necessary to ensure they don’t repeat the mistakes from this season.

The club will be keen to back Gerard Zaragoza, who has turned their fortunes around since the 2023-24 season. With fans having new and lofty expectations, the next season will define the club’s direction for the future.

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