I-League 2015/16: Three reasons why Bengaluru and Mohun Bagan will play out a draw on Saturday

02/12/2016

Table-toppers Bengaluru will host defending champions Mohun Bagan in their seventh match of the season at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. In what could be a crucial game for the title aspirants, both teams are likely to play out a draw with neither wanting to end up on the losing side.

Prediction

Bengaluru FC 1 – 1 Mohun Bagan

1. History suggests a draw

The last time these two teams clashed at the Sree Kanteerava stadium on May 31, 2015, the I-League title was on the line. Bello Rasaq’s 86-minute equaliser cancelled John Johnson’s header as the Mariners lifted their maiden title by winning the league with a two-point advantage. It wasn’t the first time the two title aspirants played out a draw. Bengaluru and Mohun Bagan have played a total five times in the last three years with three of them being draws and both sides claiming one win each.

Both teams are likely to take a safety-first approach to keep their title bids intact.

2. The indifferent form of both sides

Bengaluru had a good start to the season winning their first three games against Salgaocar, Aizawl and Shillong Lajong, but hit a roadblock when they travelled to Mumbai for the fourth encounter. A defeat at the Cooperage was followed by a win against fellow title challengers East Bengal away at Kolkata, but it all came crashing down once again when Odafa’s brace at the Kanteerava sent Bengaluru to their second defeat of the season. A win in the midweek fixture against DSK Shivajians have put them back on the track, but the lack of a settled line-up shows in their indifferent start to the season.

On the other hand, Mohun Bagan are unbeaten in the I-League this season with wins against Aizawl, Salgaocar and DSK and deadlocks against East Bengal and Mumbai. But Cornell Glen’s loss of form after the initial flourish has made their attack struggling for goals. A 0-6 drubbing away in the AFC Champions League qualifier and a goalless draw against Mumbai in midweek has taken the sheen off Sanjoy Sen’s team, which grabbed the title last season.

With both sides going through indifferent forms this season, it is unlikely that we will see a high-scoring game on Saturday night.

3. Both sides will cancel out each other

The home side has scored a total of 12 goals this season – which is the best in the league, while their opponents Mohun Bagan have found the net 10 times. On the defensive front, the defending champions look the better side by only conceding four goals this season against Bengaluru’s six.

A tight match must be on the cards looking at the stats with almost nothing separating the two title-chasers.

(Also Read: What ISL should learn from the tale of New York Cosmos)