Punjab FC vs Bengaluru FC lineups, team news, prediction & preview
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Punjab FC will be looking to bounce back to winning ways in ISL against the Blues.
Indian Super League (ISL) club Punjab FC and head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis will be desperate for all three points at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium when they welcome Bengaluru FC to New Delhi. The Blues came out on top in the reverse fixture in Bengaluru in October 2024 as they recorded a close 1-0 win courtesy of a superb goal from full-back Naorem Roshan Singh.
It is a must-win game for both sides as they find themselves on the verge of falling out of the top six spots. The match week 19 fixture has huge ramifications for both clubs, with eight points separating them in the ISL league standings.
The Stakes
Punjab FC
The Shers under head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis have been winless since the first week of December 2024. It’s been a season filled with ups and downs for head coach Dilmperis and his men, who have struggled through injuries and misfortune. They have lost three and drawn two of their last five games.
The Shers at home have only won four games at home out of a possible nine games. It’s now or never for the Shers and coach Dilmperis as they strive to book an unlikely ISL playoff berth.
Bengaluru FC
Bengaluru FC have struggled a lot in their last five games in the league and have only managed only one draw during that period. The previous match against Mohun Bagan Super Giant saw them drop three valuable points following Liston Colaco’s 74th-minute winner.
Keeping clean sheets has been a struggle for the Blues this season, with their last clean sheet coming in a 1-0 win over Punjab FC in matchweek 5. The Blues’ head coach Gerard Zaragoza will be desperate to end their five-game winless run. However, a loss can significantly dent their playoff aspirations and potentially see them fall out of the coveted top-six spots.
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Injury and Team News
Both sides will be fielding a fully fit side ahead of the high-stakes fixture in matchweek 19.
Head-to-Head Record
Total Matches played – 4
Punjab FC wins – 1
Bengaluru FC wins – 2
Draws – 1
Predicted Lineups
Punjab FC (3-4-3)
Ravi Kumar (GK); Pramveer, Melroy Assisi, Suresh Meitei; Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Ricky Shabong, Nikhil Prabhu, Leon Augustine; Asmir Suljic, Nihal Sudeesh, Luka Majcen
Bengaluru FC (4-4-2)
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK); Nikhil Poojary, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Rahul Bheke, Naorem Roshan Singh; Ryan Williams, Alberto Noguera, Pedro Capo, F Lalremtluanga; Edgar Mendez, Sunil Chhetri
Players to Watch
Ezequiel Vidal (Punjab FC)
The 29-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder has been one of the star performers for Punjab FC since arriving this summer. He has been orchestrating some of the club’s best performances this season alongside club captain Luka Majcen.
A player known for his finishing and ball-carrying abilities, he has contributed five goals and two assists in 15 games this season. Apart from being the second-highest scorer for his club, he also is an important leader on the field for his side. A great performance from Vidal against the Blues will be essential for the Shers looking to capture all three points.
Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)
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The 40-year-old club captain reached 11 goals for the season after his consolation goal against Odisha FC. Despite going goalless in his last game against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Chhetri has stepped up when his team called his number time and again.
With his legendary career continuing to defy father time, the Blues striker still possesses the hunger in front of goal and will be a threat against Punjab. Saturday could prove to be yet another opportunity to show why he is still the man for the big occasions in New Delhi.
Did You Know?
- Punjab FC haven’t won in their last seven games.
- Bengaluru FC have conceded a goal in each of their last 13 matches.
- When Punjab FC leads 1-0 at home, they win 71 per cent of their matches.
- When Bengaluru FC leads 0-1 away from home, they win 37 per cent of their matches.
Telecast
The Punjab FC vs Bengaluru FC game will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on February 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM IST.
Live telecast of the fixture will be available on Sports18 Network (Sports18 1/VH1 Channel).Live streaming of the game will be available on the JioCinema app. Viewers from abroad can use OneFootball to stream the game.
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