In his press conference before the match against Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters manager Mikael Stahre termed the fixture a “tough home match”. On the face of it, this seems odd. After all, Bengaluru would have to contend with the home team’s fanatical fans. But, going by the performances of the two teams, it is evident that Stahre was right to highlight how difficult the game would. The league leaders have been that good.
After five matches, Bengaluru have a near-perfect record—four wins, including an impressive 3-0 win against ISL Shield Winners Mohan Bagan Super Giant, and one draw, which was against ISL Cup winners Mumbai City, away from home. Incredibly, the team is yet to concede a single goal in the competition this season.
Captain Sunil Chhetri has three goals and one assist already and even at 40, the retired national team legend is still arguably India’s best player, thanks primarily to his football intelligence—unmatched within the country's national talent pool. Having an Indian player as a goal threat is a major advantage for the team because every other ISL team depends heavily on foreign players for goals. Therefore, having Chhetri in the squad frees up an extra slot for the team to field a foreign player elsewhere on the pitch.
Centre-back Chinglensana Singh will miss the match against the Blasters after being shown a red card in the 1-0 win against Punjab. For most teams in the ISL, this would be a major blow. But, in the case of Bengaluru, it could be argued that it would make their defence stronger with the towering Australian Aleksandar Jovanovic expected to start.
The only problem for Bengaluru is that new signing Jorge Pereyra Diaz is yet to get going in the league. However, even this is bad news for the other teams—that Bengaluru are playing well without one of the league’s most talented attackers firing on all cylinders. The Blasters’ fans have seen up close how devastating the 34-year-old Argentine can be during his one season in Kerala, and they have to hope that he does not find his form against their team. In fact, it was Diaz's goal in the added time that knocked the Blasters out of Durand Cup earlier this year, in Bengaluru's 1-0 win in the quarterfinal.
The Blasters have shown great improvement since their disappointing opening match loss to Punjab. Noah Sadaoui has been electric and has formed a great understanding with Jesus Jimenez. Captain Adrian Luna is making progress in terms of improving his match fitness, but it may be too early to expect a massive impact from him. What is important for the team is that he plays enough minutes to enable him to get back to his best later in the season. Kwame Peprah can consider himself unlucky if he does not get a start after impressing from the bench. But, Jimenez is the right choice as he helps the team recycle the ball by dropping deep; Peprah is more of a threat on the counter-attack and in later stages of matches against tired defences.
The team has scored in every game so far, and with Sadaoui, Jimenez and Luna, and the threat of Peprah from the bench, the Blasters are a good bet to be the first team to breach the Bengaluru defence this season. The problem for the home team will be at the other end of the pitch.
The Blasters are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have conceded first in four of five matches so far. The attack is foreign-player heavy, which means that the Indian players will have to be trusted in crucial roles in defence and midfield. If the coach is unwilling to make the tough call of dropping Luna for this match, he will once again restrict himself to being able to pick only one out of Milos Drincic and Alexandre Coeff. Ideally, for this match, the Blasters need Coeff as the defensive midfielder and Drincic in defence. But, the indications are that Luna will start. So, we may see a midfield of Vibin Mohanan and Mohammed Azhar again. There were many, fans included, who celebrated the “record sale” of Jeakson Singh. Bengaluru may well be the match that exposes the lack of defensive nous in the Blasters midfield.
It is often said that attack is the best defence. But in this case, defence will be the only defence.