NorthEast United face Bengaluru FC in bid to return to winning ways

Both sides were defeated in their respective last game in the league.

Coming on the back of heavy home defeats, NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC will both be looking to make a statement of intent in the race to solidify a spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) playoffs. The Highlanders had their game against Chenaniyin FC postponed due to unrest in the region and will now play the defending champions on Wednesday. Robert Jarni will want to prove that his team aren't knocked out after the crushing blow suffered at the hands of ATK. Bengaluru FC, similarly, will want to get back to winning ways after having their own unbeaten streak snapped. A repeat of last season’s semi-finals, this clash between two polarizing giants should be quite a spectacle. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

The Stakes

NorthEast United

NorthEast United were brought crashing down, when ATK put on a counter-attacking display to hand them a thrashing at their own ground. The Highlanders are now winless in three games and slipping further behind the top four spots. They need a win to take a step closer to regaining a spot in the playoffs places.

Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC received a stern reality-check, when Mumbai City upset them with a last-minute winner to snap their undefeated run. The defending champions don’t have the best away record this season, only having the one slender win over Odisha FC. In order to prove that the loss to Mumbai was an anomaly, they must go all guns blazing to come up with a big win at what will be an empty Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.

Team News

NorthEast United

NorthEast United will likely be without star striker Asamoah Gyan against Bengaluru FC. He limped off against ATK with another injury. Federico Gallego is back with the side and should feature for the Highlanders.

Bengaluru FC

Manuel Onwu missed the game against Mumbai City FC with an ankle injury and is unlikely to feature against the Highlanders. Apart from that, Bengaluru are going into the game with a clean bill of health.

Head-To-Head

The two sides have met seven times in the ISL (including playoffs) and Bengaluru FC have won four times. NorthEast have only won once, while the remaining two games have been stalemates.

Men To Watch

Redeem Tlang (NorthEast United)

The former Shillong Lajong player scored his first-ever ISL goal against Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the semi-finals last season and has only gotten better from there onward. Tlang’s been menacing with his fiery movement and embodied their spirit with his hard-working nature. With Bengaluru’s defence low on confidence, he’ll look to use his good form to cause all sorts of problems in the final third.

Dimas Delgado (Bengaluru FC)

Dimas ends up inspiring the Blues in the big matches and has that never-say-die attitude to thrive in difficult situations. He’ll look to drive Bengaluru forward with his creative forward passes, attempting to link a few good chances for his frontline. Delgado’s set-piece prowess makes him a real threat for NorthEast, who must keep a close watch to keep the Spaniard from running riot.

Probable Lineups

NorthEast United Subhasish, Reagan, Komorski, Heerings, Pradhan, Leudo, Khawlhring, Tlang, Gallego, Kadam, Chaves.

Bengaluru FC

Gurpreet, Khabra, Serran, Juanan, Nishu, Paartalu, Delgado, Udanta, Augusto, Kuruniyan, Chhetri. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Did You Know?

• Bengaluru FC have kept the most clean-sheets (5) in the ISL so far. They’ve also conceded the least number of goal (5).
• Asamoah Gyan’s scored (3) almost half of all NorthEast United goals (8) this season.
• The game between the two sides in October was the first time they played out a goalless draw

Broadcast

The game will take place at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Wednesday and will be telecast live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD from 6 PM IST. It will also be streamed on Hotstar and Jio TV.