ATK 1-0 Bengaluru FC: 3 reasons why the defending champions lost | ISL 2019-20

#2 ATK execute their game-plan to the tee

Williams was brilliant for ATK

The encounter on Wednesday pitted two teams who were perched in the higher echelons of the ISL table, meaning that several expected an immensely cagey and strategic contest. And, those notions weren’t too unfounded as the outfits produced a fascinating tactical battle, although the hosts clearly outwitted the visitors.

ATK were content to defend in two banks of four, meaning that Bengaluru had to frequently ping the ball from side to side without ever penetrating. Subsequently, the home side’s midfielders kept working tirelessly to ensure that spaces didn’t appear between the lines.

Javi Hernandez and Jayesh Rane were brilliant in midfield whereas their defenders also barely put a foot wrong. In addition, Michael Soosairaj and Prabir Das played relatively withdrawn roles on the flanks as they stifled the visitors’ offensive movements comfortably.

When ATK had the ball, they moved it swiftly as they found their strikers in the attacking third, thereby allowing them the time to turn and run at the defenders.

Furthermore, they kept exploiting the gaps behind Bengaluru’s defensive line with several players exposing their off-side trap. Though that didn’t directly lead to a goal, it highlighted the threat the hosts posed and it forced the away side to drop off, at times.

Thus, through the course of the game, ATK had managed to execute their game-plan to the tee. In the process, they’d sent out a strong message to those that had been doubting their credentials in the ISL.