I-League: Round 16 Preview – Three clubs in contention to be Christmas champions

Overview

The term ‘Christmas champions’ is commonly used all around Europe and one I-League club will be able to use that tag for at least seven weeks as the competition will have a break after this weekend. It won’t exactly be the hibernation that European domestic leagues (barring EPL) goes into as clubs will be in action in the Federation Cup while the Kolkata teams also have local league assignments and the IFA Shield.

Whoever is top going into the break will certainly be confident of staying there at the end of the season and three teams are in contention to be in that position. I-League debutants Bengaluru FC currently lead the table but could lose that spot to either Sporting Clube or Pune FC if they lose at home to Salgaocar, who haven’t won since the start of November. Bengaluru suffered their first-ever home loss to East Bengal last weekend and must bounce back to maintain their lead at the top.

Second-placed Sporting Clube will be hoping for a Salgaocar win of course but must do their job of beating United Sports Club at home. The reverse fixture ended in a 2-1 win for the Kolkata side in Kalyani earlier in the season but the purple shirts are lacking confidence as they have failed to win their last five games. Sporting are the form team of the league with a hattrick of wins and a fourth straight triumph will enhance the growing self-belief of their young squad.

Pune FC need favours from not only Salgaocar but also United SC to go top and themselves face a wounded animal in Mohun Bagan. The Red Lizards have won both their away matches against Kolkata clubs this season and defeated the Mariners 2-0 in Pune back in October. But Mike Snoei’s side have to guard against complacency and will be wary of Mohun Bagan’s desperation to get three points because anything less could end Karim Bencherifa’s second spell at the club.

All three games are on a super Saturday with two of them live on television. but there is another fixture in this round involving fourth placed Shillong Lajong and ninth placed Dempo. Lajong are looking to do the double over the record five-time champions but the young squad of the Goan outfit have some confidence again after winning away at Mohun Bagan last weekend.

Fixtures

Saturday: Bengaluru FC vs Salgaocar (15:00; LIVE on Ten Action), Sporting Clube vs United SC (15:30), Mohun Bagan vs Pune FC (17:00; LIVE on Ten Action), Shillong Lajong vs Dempo (17:00)

Game of the round

Mohun Bagan vs Pune FC

This will be the first I-League fixture to be played at the Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat this season due to the pre-centenary celebrations of East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium and has plenty riding on it. While Pune are aiming for three points to maintain pressure on Bengaluru and perhaps go top if other results go their way, hosts Mohun Bagan badly need a win to give their club some stability. This is because a failure to win this game could cost Bencherifa his job at the 124-year-old club for the second time in almost four years. Since parting ways with Bencherifa for the first time in February 2010, Mohun Bagan have had eight different coaches with the Moroccan being the eighth of course.

They have going backwards ever since Bencherifa left the club more than three seasons ago and although another change may prove to be beneficial for the short-term, it will hurt them in the long run. Mohun Bagan is a club with rich history but the last three seasons has been horrifying at times as there has been no silverware while they also suffered relegation, only to return following a hefty fine of Rs 2 crore. The success of arch-rivals East Bengal at home and abroad in that period has added to the Mariners’ woes.

Bencherifa simply cannot afford another failure and most Mohun Bagan fans don’t want that to happen as they rightly have realised that the real problems of the club lie off the field. But the former I-League winning coach couldn’t have wished for a tougher opponent than title contenders Pune who also have Arata Izumi back from suspension following their impressive 2-1 win against United SC in the last round. Pune weren’t party poopers two seasons ago in Jose Barreto’s farewell match but could ensure the end of Bencherifa’s second spell.

On the other hand though, a win could change the mood at the club completely especially as Bencherifa could have a crack at three trophies by the time the I-League resumes in February. The former Salgaocar and Churchill Brothers tactician would be hoping that this is the game where his captain and superstar Odafa Okolie gets back to his best. Odafa’s future too is uncertain after a string of poor displays this season and thus the Nigerian will be determined to show that his class is permanent. It’s do or die for Bencherifa’s Mohun Bagan while Pune have title aspirations to fulfill. This a must-watch for every Indian football fan.

Players to watch out for

Foreigner: Darryl Duffy (Salgaocar)

The Scotsman has gone quiet in recent weeks after scoring in his first five games. Duffy’s loss of form has coincided with Salgaocar’s winless streak and thus the Goan club need their star signing to fire on all cylinders again.

Indian: Jeje Lalpekhlua (Dempo)

With Balwant Singh in top form for Churchill Brothers, Jeje must quickly find some consistency to keep his place in the India team. He is still only 22 but an international in a squad full of youngsters and thus must inspire them to a victory against Lajong.