Explained: Why Bengaluru FC are good from set-pieces

The Blues are regarded as one of the best sides to deal with dead ball situations in the league.

Bengaluru FC are well on the way to making it to their third consecutive playoffs in the Indian Super League. Despite having started the season on a poor note, the Blues are still in contention for the all-important top spot in the league. Having lost their star striker in Miku, his replacement Manuel Onwu didn’t really fare well for the side and was shipped off to fellow Indian Super League outfit Odisha FC in a loan move until the end of the season.

Nevertheless, the team have put up exemplary performances in defence and have managed to see off most of the rivals that posed a threat. In particular, under Carles Cuadrat, the Blues have established a name for themselves by displaying some high quality set-piece routines this season.

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Bengaluru FC compensate for their lack of goals from open play with brilliantly orchestrated routines from dead ball situations and more often than not have scraped through matches and earned points through this route.

Here we have a look at the men behind this regimen.

Dimas Delgado

Dimas Delgado is one of the finest midfielders to have played in the competition. The flair and grace with which he carries his game is a treat to watch. Dimas has five assists to his name this season and leads the charts for the most number of passes completed in the league.

Being the designated corner-taker, his extensive vision and accurate passing makes Bengaluru all the more lethal in these situations. Every set-piece routine begins with him being at the forefront of things. As Dimas ambles towards the corner flag, the players position themselves inside the box, muscling the opponents to make space for their movements. With a few secret gestures and one final glance, he whips into the air, a perfectly directed and weighted cross and he awaits to see the outcome of his masterclass.

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Erik Paartalu

Standing at well over 6 feet, Paartalu towers over a good number of players in the league and goes into any aerial duel with a significant advantage, which explains why most of the crosses are directed towards him. The Australian returned earlier this season after a long injury layoff had kept him out for a major part of the previous campaign. He marked the occasion with a fantastic headed goal off Delgado’s corner and since then has been instrumental in each of Bengaluru’s games.

His strong physique and keen eye for the ball come in handy, as he plays a crucial role in Cuadrat’s set-piece routine. Erik’s movement and hold up play is fantastic and he's usually the man to mark in these situations. However, he often manages to overpower his marker and finds a way to get on the end of the cross.

While the big Aussie can be seen popping headers into the back of the net, Carles Cuadrat doesn’t always rely on this monotonous strategy and intermittently plays Paartalu as the decoy, creating space and chances for others to score.

Sunil Chhetri

Bengaluru FC’s talismanic striker. Never has a player of his stature posed such a threat inside the box from corners. The skipper’s movement and positioning is inconceivable and often puts the opposition defenders in disarray. Add to this, his sublime finishing and Bengaluru bag another goal.

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The Foxes In The Box

When it comes to Bengaluru, every outfield player plays an important part in their routines from set-pieces. From holding the opposition players to winning the second ball, the Blues make themselves very lethal inside the box.

Carles Cuadrat - The Mastermind

The Spanish tactician has it all planned and tested in training. His joyous celebrations on the touchline are a mere reflection of the amount of thought and work put into executing each and every move. He has a wide range of cards to play and is well aware of what to place on the deck to grab a goal. The 51-year-old has never shied away from taking risks and often springs up with innovative ideas and combinations.

Let’s have a look at one of the most tactically brilliant plays setup this season, Bengaluru’s goal against Kerala Blasters. The Blues win a corner in the 54th minute of play, Dimas and Nishu position themselves at the flag as they gear up to take the corner.

The Plot

Bengaluru FC have Dimas and Nishu at the corner flag, Udanta and Chhetri outside the box and six players inside the box. Five Bengaluru players crowd the keeper and Albert Serran is at the far end of the box.

Kerala Blasters: have two players outside the box to counter the short corner, seven players man-marking the Bengaluru players inside the box and have Jessel standing just at the edge of the box.

The Ploy

Nishu Kumar steps over the corner, moves away from the ball. Although, his involvement in the move is null, his presence along with Udanta Singh just outside the box forced Kerala to field two players outside the box, which would later work in Bengaluru’s favour.

Dimas whips in a cross; while the Blasters' defenders continue to mark the area of stronghold, Ashique Kuruniyan runs in the direction opposite to the goal inviting Jessel’s attention.

Delgado’s lofted cross dips just in the middle of the box to fall in Chhetri’s path, which is held clear by Serran, who managed to hold Messi Bouli from intercepting Chhetri’s run.

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Just as the ball fell in his path, Chhetri had a clear chance to net from close range as the Blasters had run out of players to guard the second post, he buried it in the back of the net.

Carles Cuadrat had gained a reputation for his tactical brilliance from set-pieces ever since his days as an assistant coach at Bengaluru FC. The Spaniard was lauded for his revolutionary ideas and is now reaping the benefits, as his team which supposedly “struggles to score” (from open play) still scores (from set-pieces). It was only poetic that he won his first title as head coach from a goal that came from a set-piece.