North East United FC’s eagerness will come up against Bengaluru FC’s consistency as the Hero Indian Super League playoffs get underway in search of a new champion at the India Gandhi Stadium here on Thursday.
The first match of the double-leg fixture will see the visitors ahead on form as the hosts look to invoke the excitement of a maiden playoff qualification to cause an upset.
Records give Bengaluru the advantage with head-to-head statistics showing three wins for the visitors in a total of four meeting so far; the other ended in a 1-1 draw. NEUFC’s head coach Eelco Schattorie acknowledged that his side will face “the best club in India” but refused to be cowed down statistics.
“We played them twice (this season) and played really well on both occasions. In the first meeting at home they drew with a last minute goal and while visiting we should have won for having created more chances,” Schattorie said.
“In the last 10-12 matches it was like fixing a big puzzle each time while selecting the team. It is going to be the same for me tomorrow but my team is surely going give a good fight and play for the badge on their shirts,” said Schattorie looking at a long list of injuries and defender Gurwinder Singh’s suspension.
However, the hosts will be compensated by the return of Colombian midfielder Jose Leudo. Schattorie hoped that the combination of Nigerian Bartholomew Ogbeche and Uruguayan Federico Gallego in the attack will come good once more.
Best attack
Bengaluru, which topped the league standings for the second successive season, will be the side to beat as it combines the best attack formation of Sunil Chhetri, Udanata Singh and Miku.
“North East has its weapons, so do we. People say that we had some problems against them but they got one point and we got four. It will be a good game with lot of passion, which is great for football,” said Carles Cuadrat, Bengaluru’s head coach.
The Blues will miss defender Gursimrat Singh Gill due to suspension while midfield workhorse Erik Paartalu is out of the tournament with injury. Cuadrat now will have to find a good replacement in the middle of the park, which may well be Spanish midfielder Alex Barrera, who was signed recently.
