Pune FC aim to derail leaders Mohun Bagan in I-League

Pune FC will be eager to end their "home" campaign on a high when they host leaders Mohun Bagan in an I-League Round-19 encounter at the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex here on Saturday.

The game will be a crucial one for Pune FC after back-to-back losses in the last two home games and they will be hoping to shrug off the disappointing run and seal their fifth home win of the season.

The encounter will also be the fourth time both sides face off this season. Both sides have won once so far this season.

Pune FC will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0-2 loss to defending champions Bengaluru FC at home in the midweek.

Pune played impressively but muffled chances and they will be hoping to rectify the problem against Mohun Bagan, who have 28 points from 13 matches. Pune lie fifth on the table, with 23 points from 15 matches.

"The game against Bengaluru FC was a tough one. Despite the difficulties we were facing, the boys put on a brave performance. We had our chances but at the end it was few mistakes that proved costly," Karim Bencherifa, Pune FC coach, said in a release on Friday.

Bencherifa said he had utmost respect for Mohun Bagan but his team will be up for the fight against his former team.

"Mohun Bagan are a very strong side. They are currently leading the table but their loss in the last round will make this game an interesting one. It will be a challenging match, but we are prepared for it."

Pune will be boosted by the return of key players Darko Nikac and Dhanpal Ganesh who are back after serving a one-match suspensions.

Mohun Bagan were unbeaten after 12 round of matches but lost against second-placed Royal Wahingdoh in Round 13.

They will be depending heavily on the overseas quartet of striker Pierre Boya, defender Bello Rasaq and wingers Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde in the absence of influential striker Balwant Singh, who is out with a two-match suspension for a sending off against Royal Wahingdoh.