Bengaluru FC 1-0 ATK: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis | ISL 2019-20

Bengaluru FC edged past ATK 1-0 at the Kanteerava Stadium in a highly physical encounter. The hosts began the game on the front foot and dominated possession at the outset. However, despite enjoying more of the ball, they weren’t able to create many openings.

The first chance of the match fell to David Williams and the Australian made the net ripple as well in the 17th minute. However, the goal was ruled out as the striker had controlled the ball with his arm. Thereafter, the Blues kept things tidy in midfield and at the back before they surged ahead in the 31st minute.

After a set-piece had been cleared, the hosts hoofed the ball back into the box, where they created a shooting opportunity for Juanan. The Spaniard fired a tame shot at goal, which was somehow spilled by Arindam Bhattacharya. Deshorn Brown did the rest and thumped the ball into the bottom corner.

Come the second half, ATK tried to restore parity and were handed a major boost when Nishu Kumar was sent off in the 83rd minute. However, the defending champions held their nerve to ensure that they ended their home campaign with a victory.

Here is a look at the talking points from the contest.

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#5 ATK and Bengaluru FC serve up an intense tactical battle in the first half

A TK and BFC produced an intense tactical battle in the first half

A week ago, ATK travelled to the Kanteerava as they hoped to notch their first win in Bengaluru and prepare themselves for a potential semi-final encounter. On that evening, Antonio Habas’ men confronted a highly rotated BFC side, meaning that Carles Cuadrat shuffled his pack tactically.

The Spaniard opted for a 3-5-2 system in the league encounter and that ploy worked for large stretches of the game. And, rather unsurprisingly, the hosts pulled off a similar trick when the pair crossed paths in the first leg of their semi-final.

Bengaluru deployed a 3-5-2 formation with Harmanjot Khabra and Nishu Kumar operating as full-backs. Albert Serran, Juanan and Rahul Bheke functioned as the centre-backs whereas Brown and Sunil Chhetri were tasked with providing the firepower in the attacking third.

Consequently, the midfield became extremely congested as both teams scrapped for the ball. In the process, neither team was able to establish a passing rhythm and stitch together constructive offensive moves.

To tackle the above, ATK started utilizing Roy Krishna’s pace, with the striker playing on the shoulder of the last defender. In reply, Bengaluru FC began defending with a much deeper defensive line, thereby ridding the Fijian of the requisite space.

The change in formation also allowed BFC to contain ATK’s marauding full-backs, with Michael Soosairaj and Prabir Das not contributing anything of note in the opening 45 minutes. Additionally, the tactic to utilize Chhetri in a wider role restricted Prabir and enabled the Indian skipper to exploit the former’s susceptibility to aerial balls.

Thus, with both sides engaging in such a rich tactical battle, chances were at a premium. And, it was rather fitting that the only goal of the period was scored in extremely scruffy fashion.

#4 Suresh Wangjam again proves his indispensability

Suresh (L) was brilliant against ATK

At the start of the season, Bengaluru FC seemed to have had their midfield bases covered, with the likes of Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu and Raphael Augusto delegated with the task of creating as well as destroying. However, an untimely injury to the Brazilian meant that the Blues were suddenly short on numbers and had to call upon Suresh Wangjam, an unheralded midfielder.

Since then though, the Indian has strengthened his credentials massively and has morphed into arguably one of their most important cogs. And, on Sunday, he lent further weight to those notions with a thoroughly impressive outing.

Suresh began the encounter as part of a three-man midfield, alongside Dimas and Paartalu. Throughout the opening period, he looked a bundle of energy as he tracked his runners diligently and took up superb positions to cut off ATK’s passing lanes.

After the break, the youngster portrayed his versatility when he was asked to deputize as a right wing-back, a role that seemed alien at first but one that he excelled in.

Suresh ended the game with 2 tackles, 3 interceptions, 5 blocks and 3 clearances. More impressively though, whenever he pinched the ball off the opposition, he showcased the adequate composure to drive forward and allow his defence the time to get back into shape.

A few months ago, not many beyond the local footballing circuit of Bengaluru would’ve expected the Indian to make such a big splash on the ISL stage. Yet, as the season enters its home stretch, one reckons that Suresh is perhaps one of the first names on the team sheet, especially considering the myriad roles he can play.

#3 Deshorn Brown eases Bengaluru FC’s scoring blues slightly

Brown popped up with the winner

In the winter transfer window, Bengaluru FC searched fervently for an attacking alternative capable of easing the goal-scoring burden on Chhetri. Subsequently, they dipped into the market and acquired Brown and Kevaughn Frater, a pair of Jamaicans who hadn’t particularly set the world ablaze but players that boasted the attributes to function as the focal point of the defending champions’ attack.

However, despite fleeting signs of encouragement, the duo largely failed to inspire, meaning that the Blues’ scoring problems continued. Yet, in perhaps their biggest game of the season, Brown stood up to be counted.

The Jamaican was a constant thorn in ATK’s side as the visitors failed to deal with his movement. At times, the striker dropped deep and dragged the defenders out of position whereas on other occasions, he ran into the wider channels, thereby enabling Chhetri to venture in-field.

Furthermore, he was willing to roll up his defensive sleeves and put in a shift for his side. He tracked back resolutely and ensured that the ATK defenders didn’t have the requisite time and space to pick out passes from deeper positions.

And, to cap off an industrious display, Brown showcased his predatory instincts when he pounced on Arindam Bhattacharya’s mistake to make the net ripple.

For quite a while, Bengaluru FC have solely relied on Chhetri to come up with the goods in the final third. Though an extremely scrappy finish by Brown might not allay those fears entirely, it certainly allowed them to get through another encounter unscathed. And, with that coming in the semi-final, one feels they might not crib about it too much.

#2 ATK fail to sparkle under the Kanteerava lights

Krishna (R) wasn't at his best

ATK arrived at the Kanteerava having scored 33 goals in the league stages. Throughout their campaign, the Kolkata-based outfit have posed a significant attacking threat, with Krishna and Williams contributing to it majorly. However, on Sunday, the pair failed to scale similar peaks, meaning that the visitors drew a blank and handed the Blues the initiative.

Apart from a few promising moments in the first half, Krishna was well marshalled by Bheke, Juanan and Serran. The troika of defenders barely allowed the striker any space to run in behind and denied him the opportunity to turn in midfield.

Williams, on the other hand, was also pretty uninfluential as he couldn’t link up with his strike partner and was often left to run into blind alleys.

ATK’s wing-backs too had a poor attacking game by their standards as they failed to leave an imprint on the game. Prabir found himself occupied with Chhetri’s threat whereas Soosairaj had his hands full tackling Khabra and then, Suresh.

Additionally, Edu Garcia and Javi Hernandez also failed to conjure anything in the centre of the park, thereby allowing the hosts the chance to keep things tight at the back and set themselves on their way to another clean sheet.

#1 The stage is set for a humdinger at the Salt Lake Stadium

Another titanic tussle awaits

On the 29th of February 2020, Chennaiyin FC razed down FC Goa at the Marina Arena as the former propelled itself as favourites to advance. Thus, plenty were expecting a similarly titanic encounter on Sunday, although there remained a general consensus that ATK and Bengaluru FC would produce a cagier contest.

And, though that turned out to be the case, it also set the platform for a monumental tussle, a fixture that could produce an awful amount of drama and of course, several intriguing sub-plots.

Nishu Kumar, who was sent off, would be unavailable for the return fixture, meaning that Cuadrat might have to tweak his system. Elsewhere, ATK might also attack a tad more, considering they would be playing at home.

More interestingly though, Bengaluru FC’s tactics on Sunday completely blunted the visitors’ attacking potency. Thus, Habas would be wanting to settle the score and unfurl a few tactical gambits of his own as ATK hope to erase the deficit.

Consequently, the encounter on the 8th of March 2020 promises to be a humdinger, considering the stakes and the intricate narratives weaved into it.

And, while Bengaluru FC would be thrilled with their 1-0 triumph on Sunday, the Blues, of all sides, would know that such ties aren’t over until the referee blows the whistle at the culmination of the second leg.