I-League: Pune FC faces Bharat FC in season’s second Pune-Derby

The rescheduled I-League Round-11 encounter carries a lot of significance for multiple reasons for both Pune teams. To begin with either side will be hoping to get the first-ever derby win after their maiden clash ended in a 1-1 draw earlier in April.

Secondly, the game will be the last time both sides play in Pune before going on a three-match away sequence at the end of the season. Moreover, given the fact that both sides have struggled in recent games, a win on the morrow will put them in a good position going into the last three rounds which makes the three points on offer very crucial.

Going into the game, fifth placed Pune FC (23 pts) will be fresh after a short two-week break which followed a hectic month of April. Having won two, drawn one and lost three of six games in April, Pune FC will be looking to improve their points tally and make a move up in the standings in the final month of the season.

Meanwhile, a win will also be vital for Pune FC who look to rebuild confidence and come out of the recent slump in form after back-to-back home losses against Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan.

Pune FC Assistant Coach Gift Raikhan will be in-charge of the game in the absence of Coach Karim Bencherifa who is on leave. Nonetheless, the Pune FC squad has been training hard in the past couple of weeks and will be keen to put on a good show on Sunday.

“It’s an important game for both sides. We have been working hard during the break and hope to come up with a good performance against Bharat FC,” said Asst. Coach Gift Raikhan on the sidelines of a training session at the Pune FC Training Pitches in Mamurdi.

On the team news front, Pune FC has a few injuries to worry about but the final decision will be taken only on the matchday. However, medio Dhanpal Ganesh will miss out as he serves a one match suspension for receiving four yellow cards.

Tenth-placed Bharat FC (15 pts) are the lowest goalscorers in the I-League having scored just nine goals so far and are the only team to not yet have reached double figures. Nonetheless, they come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over leaders Mohun Bagan at Balewadi in the midweek.

The hosts will be heavily depending on their overseas quartet of defender Omar Jarun, medio Robert Hassel, playmaker Romuald Boco and striker Kris Bright. Meanwhile, the likes of Dharmaraj Ravanan, Gouramangi Singh and Subash Singh will add to the experience in the squad.

With the only game played between the two sides ending in a 1-1 draw a month ago, Pune FC will be eager to get that all important first win in this fixture. Moreover, with the previous game being action packed with two goals and as many red cards, the clash on the morrow also promises to be a cracker.

The game kicks off at 7.00 PM IST under floodlights on Sunday and will be LIVE on Ten Action.

FORM RUN (Last 5 Matches)
Pune FC (5th, 23 pts): L-L-W-L-W
Bharat FC (10th, 15 pts): W-L-L-D-L

HEAD-2-HEAD
04/04/15 – IL – Pune FC 1-1 Bharat FC at Pune