Match facts
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Start time: 2000 local
Venue: Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Big Picture
Bengaluru FC find themselves at the same stage they were in during their continental debut in the AFC Cup in 2015 - faced with a tough away match to progress beyond the round of 16, when they take on Hong Kong's 2014-15 league champions Kitchee SC on Wednesday.
Kitchee bring with themselves an impressive record from the AFC Cup group stages - winning four out of six matches to top Group F - as well as comprehensive victories in their last five matches across all competitions, games across which they have scored 15 goals and conceded four.
It has been a quiet month for Ashley Westwood's Bengaluru, with an early exit at the hands of Aizawl FC in the Federation Cup, and only one inconsequential AFC Cup game against Johor Darul Ta'zim played since. They have also had to deal with speculation about the immediate future of their coach, while several players return immediately after this match to join the national team camp ahead of an AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Laos on June 7.
Form guide (last five matches, most recent first)
Kitchee SC WWWWW
Bengaluru FC LLLWL
In the spotlight
Kitchee SC are already in the finals of a domestic playoff for the AFC Champions League next season, and they were helped to a 4-1 win on Sunday over Hong Kong Pegasus by two goals inside the first four minutes from Alessandro Ferreira, their Brazil-born Hong Kong international. Sandro, as he is commonly referred to, will be a handful for any defence due to his height and physical style of play.
Bengaluru FC had a good run in domestic competitions, but when it comes to continental football, it is often the quality of goalkeepers that makes the difference. Bengaluru are lucky in that regard to have Amrinder Singh, for long considered the best goalkeeper under the age of 23 in India. Amrinder commands his defence well and uses his build to good effect. His positioning and anticipation will be crucial if Bengaluru are to stand firm against a team in good form.