ISL Final, Bengaluru v Goa: Road to Summit Clash - 3 reasons why Blues are favourites to grab ISL 2018-19 trophy

#1 Bengaluru's enviable record against Goa

Albert Serran could be brought back into the line-up against FC Goa

Bengaluru needed just 10 men to beat Goa 3-0 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, which secured their spot on top of the ISL table. Even before that, they convincingly beat Goa 2-1 with that famous Rahul Bheke back-heel and Sunil Chhetri's goal.

There's something about Goa's style of play that Bengaluru have figured quite well. It's probably got to do with maintaining a high line with two solid centre-backs - Albert Serran and Juanan Gonzalez in this case - and flowing the attack from the flanks.

The midfield of both sides contribute to the attack the same way. Bengaluru's Dimas Delgado may have only made 1025 passes and trails Goa's Ahmed Jahouh (1394) by a margin of more than 350 but Jahouh also has defensive duties to execute. Bengaluru have a defensive midfielder (Alejandro Barrera) just for that, giving Delgado the freedom to move up, just like Goa's Edu Bedia.

Up front, Miku sometimes holds the final defender and finds the runs made by wingers Udanta Singh and Sunil Chhetri. Ferran Corominas, the top-scorer with 15 goals, does that for Goa but their wingers Jackichand Singh and Brandon Fernandes are not as lethal as Bengaluru's duo.

Cuadrat may bring Serran back into the line-up to partner Juanan in the defence, which means Xisco has to drop to the bench. But it's probably what the team needs to maintain its enviable record against Goa and grab the ISL trophy.

"I think the final is always a different game but we know how to play against them," Bengaluru midfielder Dimas Delgado said. "We know them well. I think it would be a good show."