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Odisha FC host defending ISL champions Bengaluru FC in Pune on Wednesday, as they look to put an end to a run of three consecutive draws, and kickstart an ascent into a possible top-four spot in the league.
Bengaluru, on the other hand, are still smarting from Robin Singh's late equaliser in Hyderabad on Friday, which denied them a victory in a game that they had thoroughly dominated after Sunil Chhetri's second-minute goal had given them the lead.
Carles Cuadrat will know that his team needs to start converting domination into wins soon, but he was in no mood for excuses in the press conference, before Bengaluru left for Pune
"Football is far, and we have the points we deserve," the Spaniard said.
Odisha will be ruing their own misfortunes in front of goal, with a plethora of chances squandered, particularly in their last two games - 2-2 draw against Chennaiyin FC, and a 0-0 draw against ATK.
Josep Gombau has found a fearsome trident in Aridane Santana, Xisco Hernandez and Jerry Mawihmingthanga, and while those three are providing enough goal-scoring ammunition, Odisha also haven't quite been able to find the balance between their attacking prowess and keeping things tight at the back.
Odisha FC v Bengaluru FC: Match Information
Date: 4th December 2019
Kickoff: 7:30 PM IST
Live Stream: Star Sports Network and Hotstar
Venue: Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune
Odisha FC v Bengaluru FC: Team News
For Bengaluru, Rahul Bheke remains a doubt with a slight muscle problem that he picked up during the Indian National Team's World Cup qualifier in Oman. Against the power of Aridane Santana, it might be a blessing in disguise to have Albert Serran in the heart of the defence alongside Juanan Gonzalez, to deal with the power of the Odisha striker.
Cuadrat will not feel the need to be rushed into panicky changes, given Bengaluru's performance levels this season, which have been at a level where they should probably be top of the league. Unless Bheke's fitness gives him a selection dilemma, Cuadrat is likely to stick rather than twist.
For Josep Gombau, he will be wondering how his side have not won their last two games, with the number of chances they have had. There is a problem with their defence, and that could be accentuated with Carlos Delgado a possible doubt for this game, with the injury he picked up in their last match against Chennaiyin FC. Rana Gharami is likely to step in for Delgado if the Spaniard is ruled out.
Odisha FC v Bengaluru FC: Probable Lineups
Odisha FC: Arshdeep Singh, Shubham Sarangi, Diawandou Diagne, Rana Gharami, Narayan Das, Vinit Rai, Marcos Tebar, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Xisco Hernandez, Aridane Santana
Bengaluru FC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Albert Serran, Juanan Gonzalez, Nishu Kumar, Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu, Raphael Augusto, Udanta Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Sunil Chhetri
Odisha FC v Bengaluru FC: ISL Form Guide
Odisha FC: D-D-D-W-L
Bengaluru FC: D-W-W-D-D
Odisha FC v Bengaluru FC Head-to-Head
This will be the first meeting between the two sides in the ISL, with Odisha replacing the Delhi Dynamos.
It is all-square between Bengaluru and Delhi Dynamos, though, with both teams having won their respective home games in the last two seasons.
Bengaluru FC wins: 2
Delhi Dynamos wins: 2
Draws: 0
Odisha FC v Bengaluru FC Prediction
Bengaluru are still unbeaten, Bengaluru have only conceded twice in six games, and only once from open play. Odisha will challenge that, but ultimately, their uncertainty in defence could cost them this game.
Prediction: Odisha FC 1-2 Bengaluru FC
