Bengaluru FC will look to beat hectic scheduling and build on their winning start to the Federation Cup when they face Mohun Bagan in a Group B game at the Tilak Maidan, in Vasco, on Tuesday.

The Blues put in the hard yards in Sunday’s opener against Salgaocar where they came out 3-2 winners courtesy a Sunil Chhetri brace and a Sean Rooney goal and despite just a day to recoup, look all set to take the charge to Bagan.

Bengaluru FC share history with Bagan as the Kolkata side were opponents in the Blues’ first ever competitive game – a 1-1 draw at the Bangalore Football Stadium in the I-League last season. The last time the sides met was in the League’s return leg where a thunderbolt from Sean Rooney saw Bengaluru come away with a vital 1-2 result at the Salt Lake Stadium. Incidentally, Rooney had a goal in the draw at home too and would only be keen to make it three in as many games against the Kolkata club.

“I hadn’t realized that I’ve scored both times we’ve played Bagan and I would love to do it again. They are a good team but at the moment, there’s no team with confidence like ours,” said the Australian striker.

Bagan have done a fair bit of a rejig to their squad over the summer, shoring the attack with the signings of Cameroon international Pierre Boya, Haitian Sony Norde, Balwant Singh and Jeje Lalpekhlua. The Mariners have even roped in defenders Bello Razaq, Anwar Ali and Dhanchandra Singh apart from bringing in young midfielder Souvik Chakraborty from United SC.

Asked about what he thought of Sunday’s game, Rooney said the team was pleased with the work rate and the outcome. “It was an exciting first half and a compact show by the defence in the second. We dominated the game and came away with a win we deserved. About playing a second game in three days, I don’t see it as too much of a problem. We’ve done all the right things at our recovery sessions and we will be as fresh as ever when we take the pitch on Tuesday.”

Bengaluru have no injury worries but with a rather strong bench, it will be interesting to see if the I-League champions’ think tank rings in any changes for the big clash.