Introduction
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season continues to deliver thrilling matches and exciting matchups, with Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC emerging as the two most competitive teams within the league. Their most recent match, played on March 29th 2025 in the Sree Kanteerava Stadium was a tense affair with the ability to play with a tactical edge. Both teams showed off their top lineups, showing some of the top players in Indian football.
This article provides a thorough overview into this match’s Mumbai City FC vs Bengaluru FC Lineups, their most important players, as well as tactical formations. If you’re a fervent fan or just starting out with the ISL this article will help you comprehend the tactics and setups that resulted in a thrilling game.
1. Match Overview
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Date: March 29, 2025
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Venue: Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
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Result: Bengaluru FC won 5-0
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Competition: ISL 2024-25 (Playoff Round)
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Goal Scorers: Ryan Williams (62′), Sunil Chhetri (76′), Jorge Pereyra Diaz (83′)
The Mumbai City FC vs Bengaluru FC match was an extremely close affair and Bengaluru FC dominating the game from beginning to end, mainly due to their counter-attacks as well as possession play. Below is the breakdown of both teams’ squads and the strategies they employed.
2. Bengaluru FC Lineup (3-4-3 Formation)
Bengaluru FC opted for a 3-4-3 formation that was specifically designed for high pressure and attacks based on possession. With a formidable defensive trio as well as skilled wingers, Bengaluru FC looked to manage midfield space and take advantage of areas on the counter.
| Position | Player | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Gurpreet Singh Sandhu | Excellent performance throughout the entire season. |
| Center Back | Suresh Meitei | played a crucial role in securing attacks. |
| Center Back | Chinglensana Singh | Strong aerial presence, crucial in defense. |
| Center Back | Aleksandar Jovanovic | Effective and consistent in tackling the face of challenges. |
| Right Midfield | Rahul Bheke | A lot of energy on the right flank, which contributed to both defense and offensive. |
| Central Midfield | Suresh Singh Wangjam | Midfielder in Mumbai’s defensive line, who honed Mumbai’s attacks. |
| Central Midfield | Pedro Capo | The pace of the game and also distributed the ball with ease. |
| Left Midfield | Roshan Singh | Contributed to both offensive and defensive phases. |
| Right Wing | Ryan Williams | The forwards provided width and speed and scored a spectacular goal. |
| Left Wing | Halicharan Narzary | Quick and direct, it caused Mumbai’s defense issues throughout. |
| Striker | Sunil Chhetri (C) | Captain was the leader with a goal that was crucial. |
Bengaluru FC Key Players
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Sunil Chhetri: Captain of the team and their primary attack danger, his leadership skills and finishing skills were crucial to Bengaluru’s attack.
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Ryan Williams: His speed and precision at the counter enabled Bengaluru to break away quickly and make chances with a goal of a lifetime at the end of the second half in the 60th minute.
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Gurpreet Singh Sandhu known for his shot-stopping abilities and his ability to stop shots, he stopped Mumbai City FC from scoring while ensuring a clean sheet.
3. Mumbai City FC Lineup (4-2-3-1 Formation)
Mumbai City FC went with traditional 4-2-3-1 system in order to strike a achieve a balance between defense and attack. Despite their configuration they had a difficult time maintaining possession, and they failed to make real chances.
| Position | Player | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | TP Rehenesh | In the end, he was a bit hesitant but had to deal with numerous shots. |
| Right Back | Hmingthanmawia Ralte | Defensive duties as well as some overlap runs. |
| Center Back | Mehtab Singh | Led the defense, but was unable to stop Bengaluru’s attack. |
| Center Back | Tiri | They were solid in their tackles, but they were a bit slow at times. |
| Left Back | Nathan Rodrigues | Well-defended, but revealed by Bengaluru’s Wingers. |
| Defensive Midfield | Yoell van Nieff | It was a struggle to control the midfield but could not get support. |
| Defensive Midfield | Jayesh Rane | Did a better job of defending, and was intercepted but was unable to contribute much to the offense. |
| Right Wing | Brandon Fernandes | The team struggled to generate chances and was snubbed against Bengaluru’s defence. |
| Attacking Midfield | Vikram Partap Singh | The creative team was able to create a strong connection but could not connect efficiently with forwards. |
| Left Wing | Bipin Singh | There were a few moments, but it was not an end product. |
| Striker | Jorge Ortiz | Disappointed in service, could not create an impression. |
Mumbai City FC Key Players
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Jorge Ortiz: The Spanish striker is typically an important player, however his ball was not found in the dangerous areas because of Bengaluru’s defensive rigors.
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Yoell van Nieff The defensive midfielder was tireless to regain the ball but Mumbai was unable to break Bengaluru’s pressing.
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Brandon Fernandes: The winger was promising but wasn’t able to get the most out of his chances on the ball.
4. Substitutes and Tactical Changes
Bengaluru FC Substitutes
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Sahil Poonia (Goalkeeper) – – Came on as a precautionary move at the end of the game in the 82nd.
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Javi Hernandez (Midfielder) – – Replaced Narzary at 74 minutes to build the midfield’s stability.
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Sunil Chhetri (Forward) – – Played the entire match, putting in crucial efforts.
Mumbai City FC Substitutes
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Vikram Partap Singh – Replaced in the early stages as part of a strategic modification, but was unable to have a significant impact.
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Brandon Fernandes – In the halftime break to provide attacking flair but struggled to make an impact.
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Bipin Singh Bipin Singh – Introduced as a pacy option during the second half, but he was unable to get past Bengaluru’s defense.
5. Key Stats and Possession
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Possession: Bengaluru FC 60% – Mumbai City FC 40%
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Shots on Target: Bengaluru FC 8 – Mumbai City FC 2
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Corners: Bengaluru FC 6 – Mumbai City FC 2
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Fouls Committed: Bengaluru FC 11 – Mumbai City FC 9
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Yellow Cards: Bengaluru FC 1 – Mumbai City FC 2
Key Match Statistics
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Bengaluru FC controlled the match by a superior possession system and effective counter-attacks.
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Sunil Chhetri’s leadership played a crucial role in steering Bengaluru in their victory whereas Mumbai City FC struggled to take down the Bengaluru defensive unit.
6. Conclusion
It was a great match. Mumbai City FC vs Bengaluru FC Lineups was an example of the tactical savvy from Bengaluru FC and a disappointing performance from Mumbai City FC. Bengaluru’s dominance on the field and a well-planned counter-attack earned them the team a 5-1 victory for Bengaluru FC..
The teams that were in place, with Bengaluru FC fielding a well-balanced team, were able to stop Mumbai’s attacks while taking advantage of their opportunities. Sunil Chhetri, again took the lead by his leadership and goal scoring ability.
Mumbai City FC, on the other hand, was unable to get past Bengaluru’s defensive line, with key players like Jorge Ortiz and Brandon Fernandes unable to have a major impact.
Source: Indian Super League – Mumbai City FC vs Bengaluru FC Lineups and Match Details
