Match facts
When: Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Start time: 7 pm local (1330 GMT)
Where: Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
Big Picture
Bengaluru FC (BFC) stand one potential clean sheet away from becoming the first Indian club to reach the final of the AFC Cup, following a dramatic 1-1 draw away to defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in the first leg on September 28. They were outplayed for most part of the match in Malaysia to the reigning champions, but owed their result in large part to a magnificent display in goal by Amrinder Singh, with a good portion of the away-goal advantage down to a superb long-range effort from Eugenson Lyngdoh. Back home, and with the promise of playing their first home game under Alberto Roca with a noisy crowd at the Sree Kanteerava, Bengaluru will know that setting up defensively against an aggressive JDT team will only play into the opposition's hands. Roca thus far has an unbeaten record in his three matches in charge thus far, but knowing that even a high-scoring draw here could mean the end of the road for BFC in this year's AFC Cup, and the Spaniard will strategize accordingly.
JDT come into this game with their two main strikers Juan Martin Lucero and Jorge Diaz, contributors of 12 out of 32 goals scored through this AFC Cup campaign, suspended after picking up their second yellow cards in the home leg in Johor Bahru. Striker Amri Yahyah, who came on as a substitute, also picked up a caution that sees him out of this second leg. In effect, coach Mario Gomez will have none of his first-choice strikers available for this important clash. Add to that the fact that JDT have already had a season where they have picked up the League, Cup and Shield titles in Malaysian football would mean all pressure will be on the visitors to search for a victory, which could open up good chances on counterattacks for Bengaluru.
In the spotlight
Alberto Roca has been happy to give starts and reinforce faith in a number of young Indian players, and has shown an ability to pick horses for courses. If Nishu Kumar was slotted in at left-back in the two legs of the quarterfinals against Singapore's Tampines Rovers, he opted for Salam Ranjan Singh to hold off the physical threat posed by the Argentine strike pair of Lucero and Diaz in Malaysia. One constant in Roca's plans has been Alwyn George, who has alternated brilliantly between setting up Sunil Chhetri and CK Vineeth on forward runs and running into space himself. JDT would be wary of the threat that he possesses as a finisher in his own right, but he could do a lot to set the platform for his strike partners to give Bengaluru the advantage.
Johor Darul Ta'zim will miss the services of their usual strike pair of Lucero and Diaz, and this provides a rare opportunity for Mohd Safee Sali. Sali has 23 goals in 70 appearances for the Malaysian national team, including two at Salt Lake Stadium the last time his country played India in an international match. Those two goals weren't enough, as India rode on a Chhetri brace to run out 3-2 winners on the night, and there would be an interesting subplot in this match to see which of the two strikers can inspire their attack to a better performance in this clash.
Stats and numbers
Bengaluru FC have only failed to score in three out of 10 AFC Cup matches this season, two of which have come in their three matches against Johor Darul Ta'zim.
Johor Darul Ta'zim's last defeat at an AFC Cup match was a group game against Kitchee of Hong Kong, when they were beaten 2-0 on March 17, 2015.
These teams last met in Bengaluru in the group stages on March 9, 2016 and on that occasion Johor Darul Ta'zim ran out 1-0 winners with a Safiq Rahim winner in the 55th minute.
Form guide (last five matches, most recent first)
Johor Darul Ta'zim DWWDW
Bengaluru FC DDWWL