Bengaluru: Three nights ago, Bengaluru FC ran riot in their 5-0 onslaught against Mumbai City FC to book an Indian Super League semifinal ticket.
The skies above were cloudless with smiles and cheers around the Sree Kanteerava stadium.
Fast forward and 24 hours before the first leg of the home semifinal against FC Goa, the clips are slightly different. The smiles are still there but are nervous ones.
An air of confidence permeates through the length and breadth of the home stadium with the tourists flying to a place that sees hope in the face of hopelessness.
For instance, in December 2024, Goa had a comfortable 2-0 lead against the Blues, but the match ended 2-2 with the hosts scripting a comeback to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat in the last 20 minutes.
Manolo Marquez — who has an enviable record against Bengaluru FC — will look to maintain that proud statistic. Goa also have serious form to fall back on – finishing second in the league with 48 points from 24 games.
BFC have never beaten a side coached by Marquez during his tenure in India. However, they have the experience of such big games against their present semifinal opponents, six years ago when they lifted the trophy.
BFC head coach Gerard Zaragoza, however, refused to let their rivals’ form become a concern.
“The reality is that we are going to play a tough team, and a team that we respect a lot. It is a compact side with really good players and it will be a tough game. This season we have not won against them but the good thing is that our players are in the playoff mood,” Zaragoza said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“It is a game between two strong teams, it is a semifinal, and you can’t compare the previous games. I came here to bring trophies to the club. It is a team I love and that’s what I want to try and do,” he added.
Both teams have lived up to the hype this season. They have been consistent, their defence has been solid, their attack has been penetrative and have come good when the backs were against the wall.
For the neutral, trying to pick a club to support, the choice is a hard one. The best way to decide would be to sit through the 180 minutes (home and away legs) or a few more over the next week when Sree Kanteerava and the Fatorda host both the ties.