With hopes of qualifying for the semifinal playoffs hanging by a thread, Bengaluru FC (BFC) will want nothing less than three points when it meets Odisha FC in the ISL at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Monday.
The twin defeats to Hyderabad FC and NorthEast United FC have left Marco Pezzaiuoli’s men in sixth place (23 points from 17 matches), four points adrift of fourth-placed Kerala Blasters, despite having played a game more. One more loss will virtually eliminate the side from the race.
BFC will welcome left-back Roshan Naorem, who has assisted six goals this season, after a suspension. But it will miss goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu through illness and midfielder Suresh Wangjam because of ankle trouble, which is most likely to end his season. Ashique Kuruniyan and Jayesh Rane are yet to recover from injuries.
Like the 2018-19 champion, Odisha too has an outside chance of sneaking into the top-four, placed as it is just one point below BFC. But it has won only one of its last six outings and will be eager for a repeat of the win it recorded against BFC earlier in the season, a convincing 3-1 triumph.
Odisha will be banking on striker Jonathas Cristian, who has scored in each of the last five matches.
