B’luru FC face Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr

BENGALURU: Bengaluru FC will look to hit the ground running when they begin life under coach Carles Cuadrat with a high-stakes AFC Cup Inter-Zone semifinal against Turkmenistan side Altyn Asyr here on Wednesday.
The Blues, who are attempting to qualify for the semifinal of the competition for a third straight time, are up against a side that knocked out last year’s finalists in FC Istiklol and are yet to lose a game in this edition. Cuadrat, who took over the mantle from mentor Albert Roca before the start of the season, said he was confident that a gruelling pre-season in Spain would come handy for a stage and an opponent like this.
“We played some very tough teams in Spain and while results didn’t go our way, I feel the experience has prepared us well for both the home and the away legs of this fixture,” he said.
The Blues who faced off against Atletico Saguntino, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Villarreal B and Barcelona B in Spain, had their defence tested heavily in the second halves of the final two games. Bengaluru will be buoyed by the inclusion of talismanic striker Miku who has been registered for the competition in his second season with the club. The game could also mark the debut of Spanish midfielder Xisco Hernandez who joined the Blues this summer, while Rino Anto could be in the reckoning in what is his second spell with the club. Cuadrat will however be without Harmanjot Khabra who is down with chicken pox. “It is strange that we had two cases of chicken pox, but that’s what it is. While Gurpreet has recovered, Khabra will miss this game,” Cuadrat informed. Also missing the game with minor niggles are Sairuat Kima and Robinson Singh. (PTI)