BFC target Blasters scalp

Bengaluru: A throwback social media post by Bengaluru FC on Tuesday, featuring skipper Sunil Chhetri's controversial goal from last year's ISL match, has gone viral and sets the stage for another cracking contest between the Blues and Kerala Blasters at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Saturday.Much has changed since the dramatic scenes almost a year back, which saw Blasters and their coach Ivan Vukomanovic being pulled up by the All India Football Federation for walking out. While Blasters have almost assured their place in the playoffs, BFC are within touching distance of sixth place and, in all probability, will start in ninth place with 18 points from 17 games.Coach Gerard Zaragoza’s side had to fight hard to force a 2-1 win over Hyderabad FC at the Fortress last week and it will take a much improved performance from BFC to bag three crucial points against a wounded Blasters side who had scored a 2-1 win against BFC in Kochi in September.“We need to remember that we’ve won 10 of the 12 points in the last four matches at home, which shows you that the Kanteerava is a Fortress. It shows that the other teams and coaches don't like to play at the Kanteerava and we are one of the top teams at home this season. The West Block Blues and the atmosphere the supporters create will all play a part in the result, and we’re all looking forward to it,” Zaragoza said.“It's a match that I don’t need to speak too much to these players about the emotion that comes with this fixture, or what it means to play for this club. What happened last season is in the last season, and has nothing to do with what happens on Saturday,” he added. BFC have three more matches at home this season.Blasters, who scored a 4-2 win against FC Goa last week after trailing 0-2 at halftime, will again bank on Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos, who is second in the season's chart with 10 goals . The home side, meanwhile, will welcome back live wire Suresh Wangjam, back from suspension, and defender Aleksandar Jovanovic, who has recovered from an injury. Despite Blasters decent run this season what will worry Manjapadda (Blasters fans) most will be the record that their team has never beaten BFC at the Kanteerava.On Friday: Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3 (Petratos 7, Cummings 68, Sadiku 80) bt Jamshedpur FC 0.Today's matches (Live Sports 18): Punjab FC vs Mumbai City FC (5 pm); Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters FC (7.30 pm).
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