I-League 2014/15: Pune FC begin campaign away from home; plays Salgaocar FC in opener

 

For the second consecutive year, Pune FC will begin their I-League campaign with multiple games away from home facing Salgaocar FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao on January 17.

The Round-1 game will also be the third time Pune FC face Salgaocar FC in Goa this season after playing them in the Durand Cup final and the Federation Cup group stage. Pune FC then head south to face defending champions Bengaluru FC (January 24) in the second round before coming back to Pune.

Fans will have to wait for the first home game of the season until Round 3, when Pune FC takes on Shillong Lajong on Thursday, January 29 at the Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi. The game will be followed by a high intensity Maha-Derby against Mumbai FC (February 1) at home. Pune FC then travel to Kolkata to face Mohun Bagan (February 7), before hosting Dempo (February 14) Sporting Goa (February 21) and newly-promoted Royal Wahingdoh (February 28) in Pune.

The month of March sees Pune FC play four away games beginning with a clash against East Bengal (March 7) in Kolkata, before playing as the away team in the first ever Pune-Derby against Bharat FC on Saturday, March 14. The following week Pune FC play state rivals Mumbai FC (March 22) at the Cooperage in Mumbai before heading north-east to play Royal Wahingdoh (March 29).

The month of April begins with a massive Pune-derby as the home side against local rivals Bharat FC on Saturday, April 4. The big game is followed by two more home games against Salgaocar FC (April 7) and East Bengal (April 11). Pune FC then travel to Goa to face Dempo SC (April 18) before coming back to Pune to play their final home games against champions Bengaluru FC (April 21) and Mohun Bagan (April 25).

The season ends with two away trips in May to face Shillong Lajong FC in Shillong (TBA) and Sporting Clube de Goa (TBA) in Margao.