BFC take on Pune in 1st leg of S/F

Leaders Bengaluru FC will fancy their chances when they lock horns with FC Pune City, who will bank on the familiar home conditions, in the first leg semifinal of the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Wednesday.

BFC, who made their debut in the ISL this season after making a big mark in the I-League till last season, have been the most impressive among the 10 teams and go into the match with their tails up against a team that have made it to the play-off for the first time in four attempts.

With both sides possessing some top class strikers and effective midfielders, apart from two Indian goalies Vishal Kaith and Gurpreet Singh who have been quietly efficient, the game promises to provide exciting fare.

In India skipper Sunil Chhetri and Venezuelan Miku, who are fifth and second in the goal-getters' list with 10 and 14 strikes respectively, the BFC have a potent strike force that would be hard to contain.

The BFC go into the match with a slight advantage of having beaten Pune City comprehensively once, but the hosts can take comfort from the fact that when the two met in the return leg in the league phase the match ended in a stalemate.

BFC's Spanish coach Albert Roca was a relieved man after his team scored its 13th win of the season with a 2-0 verdict over Kerala Blasters in a game in which the team's two main defenders John Johnson and Juanan were out due to suspensions.

If the BFC have a potent frontline, Pune have in Marcelinho a top-class forward who has forged a fine understanding with fellow South Americans - Emiliano Alfaro of Uruguay and Brazilian compatriot Diego Carlos, who all have served out suspensions from games.

These three would pose a constant danger to the BFC citadel with promptings from the likes of Adil Khan and Marcos Tebar in the midfield.