Jamshedpur FC eye another home win in ISL 2025-26 against Bengaluru FC

Red Miners are undefeated at home this season.

The Indian Super League is inching closer to its business end, and amidst the scorching summer heat, the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur FC gears up to host defending ISL Finalists Bengaluru FC in the Matchweek 12 fixture of the Indian top flight.

This fixture is popularly referred to as the Steel Derby, reflecting both cities’ deep industrial association with steel production. The home team, Jamshedpur FC, are back in the title race after clinching two back-to-back wins over FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC in the last two games.

Jamshedpur’s home form has been terrific, and even stalwarts like Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan have failed to breach the Furnace this season. The title race is heating up, and Jamshedpur will be keen to leave no stone unturned to get the better of the Blues.

Bengaluru FC have played the most draws in this ISL season and are coming after three back-to-back draws against East Bengal, Mumbai City and Odisha FC. Mathematically, they are still alive in the title race, but anything other than a win in the next game would put their title hopes to rest.

It is now or never for the Blues, who have conceded two defeats, but their inability to convert draws into wins has adversely affected them. All eyes will be on Spanish gaffer Pep Munoz and assistant coach Renedy Singh, who will be back at the nostalgic venue of Jamshedpur, where he spent his early days as a Tata Football Academy graduate.

The Stakes

Jamshedpur FC

The Red Miners were struggling to score goals and had been conceding early goals, which saw them failing to clinch even a single win for five games. After that away defeat to Kerala Blasters FC, everyone almost wrote them off the title race, but Owen Coyle had different plans.

In the last two games, Jamshedpur FC beat Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa and scored six goals, including a clean sheet against the Gaurs. No wonder the Red Miners have been invincible at home and have managed to win five out of their seven home games.

Stephen Eze will still be absent as he will be serving his last suspension against Bengaluru, but Lazar and Pratik have done a good job in defence. Nonetheless, Madih Talal’s arrival has single-handedly turned the tables for the Red Miners as he has created too many opportunities for Bouli to bury them in the goal.

Bengaluru FC

The Blues saw the departure of Gerard Zaragoza, who took them to the final last season, and Renedy Singh took over the reins. The Blues rely a lot on possession-based football, as they kept the ball on their feet the most this season after the Mariners.

Scoring from set pieces has also been a major issue for the Blues, and surprisingly, the Blues’ away form has been terrific as they are undefeated away from home. Bengaluru FC have historically dominated this fixture, winning about half the total games played between the two teams.

Brian Sanchez has been the top scorer for the Blues this season, followed by Ashique Kuruniyan, whereas Nikhil Poojary has created the most chances for the Blues. It will be interesting to see if the front three Indian attacking unit of Bengaluru can get the better of Albino Gomes.

Team News

Pep Munoz will be without Ashique Kuruniyan who has been rendered out for the season and Nikhil Poojary, who is also out with hamstring injury but might be available for the last game of the season.

Stephen Eze will be out as he will be serving his final suspension against the Blues.

Head-to-head

Total Matches – 18

Jamshedpur FC wins – 05

FC Goa wins – 09

Draws – 04

Predicted Lineups

Jamshedpur FC (4-2-3-1) 

Albino Gomes (GK); Sarthak Golui, Pratik Chaudhari, Lazar Cirkovic, Nikhil Barla; Puia, Nikola Stojanovic; Rosenberg Gariel, Madih Talal, Mohammed Sanan; Messi Bouli

Bengaluru FC (4-3-3)

Gurpreet Sandhu (GK); Meetei, Rahul Bheke, Sana Singh, Roshan Singh; Braian Sanchez, Kuziev, Fanai; Ryan Williams, Sunil Chhetri, Sivasakti

Players to Watchout

Mohammed Sanan (Jamshedpur FC)

The 22-year-old winger from Malappuram has been a live wire from the flanks for the Red Miners. He has locked horns with the junior teams from Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers during his early days in the Next Gen Cup 2023 with RFYC.

From scoring on his debut against the Mariners to helping them make it to the ISL Semi-Finals and Super Cup Finals last season, Sanan has been one of the most reliable players for Jamshedpur FC since the last two seasons. He has so far scored two goals, including a brace against Chennaiyin FC.

He also got a senior team call-up recently under Khalid Jamil before plying his trade with the India U23 team. He is one of the brightest talents in the squad, and at a time when his team needs him the most, Sanan will be eager to step up and go all guns blazing against the Blues.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

The Great Wall of India has been a formidable presence between the sticks for the Blues for the last nine years and has won accolades, including the ISL Trophy and the Super Cup. In 11 games, he has kept four clean sheets and conceded 11 goals so far.

He has kept two clean sheets in the last five games against FC Goa and Mumbai City FC. However, he has struggled to keep a clean sheet in his last two visits to the Steel City. It is now or never for the Blues, and Gurpeet will be eager to keep JFC strikers quiet and keep a crucial clean sheet.

Jamshedpur have scored six goals in their last two games and scored in every single one of their last seven home games. No away team has been able to keep a clean sheet at the Furnace, and Gurpreet must secure a clean sheet against the Red Miners to keep Bengaluru’s title hopes alive.

Did you know

• Jamshedpur won 2-1 when these two sides last met at the Furnace
• Bengaluru FC have not lost a single game away from home this season.
• Jamshedpur FC are still unbeaten at home this season.

Telecast Details

The Indian Super League 2025-26 match between Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC will take place at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Saturday (9 May)

It will kick off at 7:30 PM IST. The match will be broadcast live on Sony Network for TV and stream on the FanCode app.

Outside India, in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 matches will be live-streamed on the FanCode app.

Begin Watch is the official broadcast partner for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.

In all other remaining countries, live streaming will be available on the FanCode YouTube channel.

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