The second match of the Indian Premier League’s ISL eleventh gameweek pits Bengaluru FC against SC East Bengal in an exciting clash. The match will be played at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao on Saturday.
Bengalaru FC had started off their ISL 2020-21 campaign going six matches unbeaten. After a stable initaial run with three wins and three draws, they went off-course with three consecutive losses.
The slump in form saw them part ways with Spanish head coach Carles Cuadrat after the three losses. He had led the Blues to their first ISL championship in the 2018-19 season.
Their attacking department has struggled in the last three ISL clashes, scoring just once. Sunil Chhetri and co will have to step up their act and get back in the groove to continue to challenge for a playoffs spot as the season progresses.
SC East Bengal had a dismal start to their debut campaign in the ISL. They started out with four losses in the first five ISL matches.
However, there have been improvements in their performances in recent matches. In their last four games, the Red and Golds have managed to stay unbeaten and also got their first ISL victory.
Their brand new signing Bright Enobakhare has started off on a stellar note, scoring two goals in his first two matches. His goal against FC Goa showed the quality he possesses and will surely be a contender for one of the best goals of the season.
Chennaiyin FC have announced that their captain Rafael Crivellaro has been ruled out for the rest of the 2020-21 Indian Super League season, following an injury.
Two referees out of the 13 that have officiated in the ISL 2020-21 season till now have been pulled out of the tournament by the AIFF due to their poor performance.
Rowan Arumugham the referee of SC East Bengal vs FC Goa match is reportedly suspended for an indefinite period. Due to multiple erroneous decisions that included red card to Fox and denying a legitimate SCEB goal, Rowan has been suspended.
JUST IN: Danny Fox to feature for SC Eastbengal in tonight’s fixture against Bengaluru FC as his suspension through red card during the previous match against FC Goa is overturned after appealing to the league committee.
For any player who has attempted a minimum of 20 dribbles in the current campaign of the ISL, SC East bengal’s Matti Steinmann (17 of 22) has the best dribbles success rate of 77.3%. Exceptional.
Bengaluru fc have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six ISL games, which is the longest such streak in the club’s history, conceding an average of 1.7 goals per game. Meanwhile they have scored just once in their last three league games. Unusual.
SC east bengal is looking bright in presence of bright. Really what a player. Solo runs are really threatening. Stainamn was beautiful along side his dummy runs. The most important thing about this team is Maghoma and bright is constantly changing there position and that is making hard for the BFC mid field deal with them. At start they were operating in left then changed to the right and again changed to the left. Very impressive. But defensive lag is there in the team.
For BFC Parag was impressive along side suresh and some spark from captain sunil. Demus was good but they have to do wing play. If they starts pressing and wing play believe me this SCEB defence is very easy to break. They just have to have the courage to do so keeping Bright and stainman left in the deep of their position.
Matti Steinmann’s first half goal remains as the difference as East Bengal beat Bengaluru 1-0. Bengaluru FC tried hard in the second half but big saves from Debjit Majumder denied them after SC East Bengal dominated them in the first half. The second half was more even but Bengaluru still lacked sting in the final third and Debjit made some huge saves to get the win for his team.
Bengaluru FC had more shots on target and more shots overall but the Hero of the Match Debjit Majumder was up to the task and helped SC East Bengal get the big win.
Astonishingly the match ended in the same result from 1st half. Chances had been created by the both teams but goal keeping was top class.
Debjit who has a new name savejit justifies that. 3 spectacular saves which gave SCEB the most important 3 point.
In the 4th quarter of the game bengaluru was pressing like any thing. But SCEB suffered that and stood their ground. But it was highly questionable move to keep milan singh for 90 min and keeping rafique in bench for so long. Rafique deserves a first 11 spot in this team undoubtedly.
Stainman was completely off in the second half. May be that id because of the injury he got. Hope that he will be back.
What bengaluru is lacking is the attacking. Chetry was trying but he is not in his best touch so dose Udanta. I have never seen this BFC team so ordinary looking till date. Hope that they will come out of it strongly.
"It’s not been easy for me. It was all of a sudden and we knew the relationship we had with Carles, it wasn’t easy for us. For all the players, I had to really sit with everyone and talk to them. The players made me feel comfortable and showed me they are professional and here to play football.
"Three sleepless nights, it’s not been easy for me. I was confident that we can bounce back. Unlucky goal but the way we played today, we can get back. Even East Bengal, they have been on top, and they were also desperate for the victory. I am sure we will come back and give a positive performance in the next match.
“I want to rely on the youth now. The way Parag played in the first game, it was unlucky he got injured. Bhutia, Amay, they were nervous but it was their first game. I do want to give them more time. We still have 10 games to go and it’s not over for us.”
SC East Bengal claimed their second win of Hero ISL 2020-21 after edging Bengaluru FC 1-0 following an impressive performance in Fatorda. Matti Steinmann’s clever finish gave Robbie Fowler’s side the lead in the first-half which they held on to with the help of some sturdy defending and Debjit Majumder’s outstanding heroics in goal. The result extends Bengaluru FC’s losing streak to an unprecedented four Hero ISL matches.
Highlights - Bengaluru FC 0-1 SC East Bengal - Match 52 | Hero ISL 2020-21
Bengaluru FC have now conceded in their last seven ISL games; they have also lost four consecutive games. Both these streaks are the longest in the club’s history. Odd.
Two referees out of the 13 that have officiated in the ISL 2020-21 season till now have been pulled out of the tournament by the AIFF due to their poor performance. 
