Following a heavy defeat against Hyderabad, Bengaluru FC are in search of a much-needed victory as they prepare to take on East Bengal at the iconic Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium on 30 December 2022 at 7.30 PM IST. Having won only 3 games out of 10, Stephen Constantine is also under scrutiny. A win to either side will give them a slim of hope of being in contention for the top 6 race.
East Bengal vs Bengaluru FC
Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson wants his side to climb from their position on the ISL table. Bengaluru, who are placed eighth on the table, are four points behind Chennaiyin FC and nine behind Odisha FC, who are currently occupying the final playoff spot.
“At the moment, we’re trying to win the next game regardless of who we’re playing because we don’t like where we are on the table. The aim is to get back-to-back wins, which we’ve not been able to achieve because that’s something I think can give us confidence,” Grayson said, speaking to the media on Wednesday.
BFC returned to the Kanteerava with a win against Jamshedpur FC a fortnight ago but then suffered a 3-0 loss to Hyderabad FC last week. Despite their stop-start run of form, Grayson believes there have been positives to take away from the previous results.
“My assessment of the last game is the same as it was right after the game. We created good chances, worked hard out of possession, and made a lot of right decisions. The only thing we did wrong was that we weren’t clinical enough in front of the goal, and that aspect needs improving,” Grayson said.
Simon Grayson shares his thoughts on East Bengal
On the other hand, East Bengal are coming into the game on the back of two defeats, placed just one point behind Bengaluru. A Cleiton Silva strike gave Stephen Constantine’s side full points in the reverse fixture at the Kanteerava, and victory on the night can take the Red and Golds above the Blues on the table. Talking about the recent results and patterns. Simon seemed aware of the threats that East Bengal possess.
“In football, things can change. Stephen Constantine might throw in a curveball and play something different from what he has been doing. He might think we’re going to play a 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 because we’ve alternated on occasion. We’re respectful of the opposition, no matter who we face, but we’re not fearful of them. We know we’ll have to be at our best,” Grayson added.
East Bengal vs Bengaluru Live Streaming
Kick-off between the Blues and East Bengal FC is scheduled for 7.30 pm on Friday, with a telecast available on JioTV, Disney+Hotstar, and the STAR Sports Network.
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