Bengaluru FC will look to bounce back after a disappointing draw on the road to Hyderabad FC last week as they prepare to face Odisha FC at the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, in Balewadi, Pune, on Wednesday. A win against Josep Gombau’s men will take the Blues to top spot, albeit provisionally, with the seventh round of fixtures in the League stages set to begin with tomorrow’s clash in Pune.

Cuadrat, addressing the press ahead of their trip, said that the Gombau-coached side was one that shared a similar philosophy. “Like us, Odisha are a team that keeps the ball to try to make the game flow in their favour. They look to take advantage of the quality of their foreigners and we have to try and set a plan for that.”

Currently in sixth place on the table, Odisha have drawn their last three games against Chennaiyin FC, ATK and Kerala Blasters, and Cuadrat added that his side was wary that Wednesday’s opposition will be looking to turn things around with a positive result.

“Odisha are going to fight against us to keep the ball and I believe it will be an interesting game. I know Josep Gombau well; he is a hard-working, honest person and a good coach. This season, in Xisco Hernandez and Aridane Santana, they have added foreigners with quality, so that’s something we will have to plan for,” Cuadrat said.

Bengaluru were pegged back by a late Robin Singh goal in Hyderabad, the first they’ve conceded from open play this season, but Cuadrat refused to hide behind excuses and said that his side should have put the game to bed earlier in regulation time. “I’m expecting a tough game tomorrow. Yes, we’ve drawn four games this season, but we’ve been the dominant side in those games. We haven’t been at our best in certain aspects, and that is what we are working on as a team to improve.”

Cuadrat, meanwhile, confirmed that he will be without Spanish striker Manu Onwu, who continues his return from an ankle injury sustained last month.

The game kicks off at 7.30 pm and will be telecast live on the Star Sports network and on Hotstar.

(Bengaluru FC)