THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Bengaluru up against a keen Aizawl FC

Bengaluru FC striker Kim Song Yong

A confident Bengaluru FC side will look to take full points once again as they face I-League debutants Aizawl FC in their second clash of the 2015-16 campaign, at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, in Aizawl, on Saturday. Ashley Westwood’s Blues side, riding high on a 2-1 opening day win over Salgaocar FC, will be without midfielder Joshua Walker, who missed the game against Salgaocar and is yet to recover from a knee injury.

There will be considerable support for the Blues as four of the squad’s five Mizoram natives have traveled with the squad. Coming up against a new side, Westwood said there was no room for complacency.

“Like most times tomorrow’s game will be a combinationof our style and the strategy we adopt depending on our opponents.  We’ve seen just one game of Aizawl and I can tell you that they definitely deserved a draw if not more against Bagan,” said Westwood.

On being asked whether he can guarantee a win – “there are no guarantees in football but what I can assure you is that every player who pulls on a BFC shirt represents the club and me and will give nothing short of 100 percent,” Westwood replied.

Skipper Sunil Chhetri scored a sublime winner off a free-kick to give Bengaluru three points in a 2-1 opening day win over Salgaocar FC, after CK Vineeth’s opener had been canceled out by a Darryl Duffy penalty at the Tilak Stadium in Goa.

Aizawl FC, on the other hand, went down 3-1 against defending champions Mohun Bagan AC at the Barasat Stadium, in Kolkata, in their first ever I-League fixture last Saturday and the Manuel Retamero Fraile-coached side will be looking to make an impression against the Blues.

The city of Aizawl is buzzing with a historic first home clash in the I-League beckoning and Fraile said it would not be just the team who will be in action tomorrow.

“The boys played their heart out against (Mohun) Bagan and we showed our true potential. But tomorrow, it won’t be just the eleven players in action; Mizoram will be there. The players know that they are representing not only the city of Aizawl, but Mizoram as a whole,” said Fraile.

Kick off at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium is at 13.00 IST.