ISL Match Preview: Top 4 clash as Bengaluru FC take on Jamshedpur FC

As the Hero Indian Super League 2021/22 season is reaching towards its knockout stages, the top battle to reach the top 4 is getting more and more serious. Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur will lock horns at the Athletic Stadium in Panaji, Goa on Saturday as the two heavyweight contenders battle for a top-four spot.

Despite underwhelming beginnings and setbacks, Bengaluru FC have found stability at the crucial moment as they become one of the favourites to finish the league stage with a semi-final claim.

Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC have doted on consistency since their opening match to assert dominance on opponents with a rock-solid defence.

With momentum in their favour, Bengaluru FC will be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins against Jamshedpur FC. On the other hand, the Men of Steel will aim to reduce the gap of four points from table toppers, Hyderabad FC.

Form Guide

Bengaluru FC: DWDWW

The Blues are on an eight-match unbeaten streak, bouncing back from a hat-trick of losses to turn their season on the head. They are placed fourth in the league table with 20 points in 14 matches.

Jamshedpur FC: DLWWW

With three successive wins in the bag, the Men of Steel are in a rich vein of form. Jamshedpur FC have 22 points in 12 matches.

Head-to-head

In nine encounters, Jamshedpur FC have had the better of Bengaluru FC four times, while the Blues have won twice with the remaining three matches ending in a draw.

Team News

Jamshedpur FC will be missing the services of their captain Peter Hartley. He is a key part of their back four and will be sitting out in the next match as a result of a suspension.

Leon Augustine has returned to the training sessions of Bengaluru FC. Harmanpreet Singh is still out while Yaya Banana is still quarantined. Bengaluru will be without the services of Congolese striker Prince Ibara, who is suspended after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season.

Key Players

Bengaluru FC

Sunil Chhetri: The captain has scored 4 goals against Jamshedpur FC while playing for his side. Chhetri is now the joint-second highest scorer in the Hero ISL along with Coro (48), one goal behind leader Bartholomew Ogbeche.

Roshan Singh Naorem: The young Indian defender scored his first goal in the Hero ISL in Bengaluru’s 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC in the last game. He has also completed the joint-most crosses this season along with Jorge Ortiz of FC Goa (17) making him a key resource for the Blues to create goal-scoring chances.

Jamshedpur FC

Greg Stewart: He needs one more assist to equal Aitor Monroy’s record of 7 assists for Jamshedpur FC in the Hero ISL. Stewart is also in a solid form as has won 5 Hero of the Match awards so far, the most by any player in the Hero ISL 21-22.

TP Rehenesh: The custodian won a Hero of the Match award in Jamshedpur’s last match and became only the second goalkeeper to win the award this season. He has kept two clean sheets in the previous two matches.

Key Stats

Corner carnage

Bengaluru FC have scored the joint second-most goals from set-pieces this season (13). They are particularly dangerous from corners, scoring the most goals from corners than any other team this season (7).

Defensive wall

Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC have kept 4 clean sheets each. Only Kerala Blasters have kept more clean sheets this season (5).

Match timings and telecast details

Match: Bengaluru FC vs Jamshedpur FC

Date: February 5, 2021

Venue: Athletic Stadium, Panaji, Goa

Kick-off time: 7.30 pm IST

Telecast: Star Sports Network

Online Streaming: Disney+Hotstar and JioTV.