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A top of the table clash awaits us tomorrow at the Balewadi Sports Complex as the league leaders Bengaluru FC face a tricky away game against the high flying FC Pune City. Both the sides are tied on nine points each at the moment with tomorrow's game set to have a huge say in the league standings.
FC Pune City manager, Ranko Popovic was highly appreciative of his opponents for tomorrow and called them a wonderful team. He reiterated the fact that the Blues have had a long time with the existing squad to prepare for the current season but also said that despite all the talk of Bengaluru FC being the favourites to win the ISL, his side should be considered as the favourites for tomorrow's home encounter.
Popovic was less impressed by the result in Pune's last home game, a slender 1-0 loss at the hands of Chennaiyin FC, calling that result as being accidental. But the Stallions picked up where they left off in their next game against Jamshedpur FC. Popovic added in his pre-match media interaction, "We are looking better and better. We play a strong team tomorrow. It’s one big test for us. We are more comfortable, more organised."
"Our problem is that we always have some last-minute problems with injuries and illnesses. We cannot field the same XI," he continued. Pune will be without the services of Lalchhuanmawia Fanai tomorrow who received a red card in the previous game. The home side have called upon two players from their reserve squad in the form of Gani Ahmed Nigam and Sahil Panwar who are available for selection against the Blues.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC boss Albert Roca has also revealed that his side will undergo rotation with three games coming up for them in the space of the next 8 days. Roca also praised his opponents and called them a tough side to beat. The Spaniard also said that Pune can put his side in trouble and that he expects the game to be an open contest.
For Pune, the duo of Emiliano Alfaro and Marcelino have been the standout performers so far in the tournament and Roca identified what his team needs to do to stop the Pune juggernaut. Roca was quipped saying, "Both are dangerous players. We have studied Alfaro and Marcelinho a lot. We have seen a lot of videos on how to stop them. They are good players. We are ready for that."
Roca and Popovic were both of the view that the team which would commit fewer errors is expected to pip the other to all three points. All in all, both the managers have kept their cards very close to their chest in what promises to be a blockbuster ISL clash tomorrow.
