Bengaluru FC will take on FC Goa in the first leg of their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 semi-final at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday. The Blues secured their place in the last four with a commanding 5-0 victory over Mumbai City FC in the knockout stage, while FC Goa finished second in the league standings with 48 points from 24 matches.
Despite Bengaluru FC’s strong form, FC Goa holds an impressive recent record against them, remaining unbeaten in their last four encounters, with two wins and two draws. However, the Gaurs will be looking to turn the tide after suffering a 0-1 defeat against Bengaluru in the ISL 2018-19 final—the last time these two sides met in the playoffs.
At home, Bengaluru FC has historically dominated FC Goa, avoiding defeat in their last six meetings at the Kanteerava Stadium, winning four times and drawing twice. FC Goa, on the other hand, has struggled to secure a win at this venue, with only Kerala Blasters FC and NorthEast United FC facing longer winless streaks here (seven matches each).
Bengaluru FC remains unbeaten in their last two playoff fixtures (one win, one draw), a streak they last extended beyond two matches between March 2019 and 2020, when they won three straight playoff games without conceding a goal.
Head coach Gerard Zaragoza is aiming to make history after winning his first ISL playoff match with a 5-0 triumph over Mumbai City. If Bengaluru triumphs again, he will become only the third ISL coach to win his first two playoff matches, joining Simon Grayson (March 2023) and Petr Kratky (April 2024).
Meanwhile, FC Goa has endured back-to-back playoff defeats, both coming at the hands of Mumbai City FC in April 2024. The last time they suffered a longer losing streak at this stage was between March 2019 and February 2020, when they lost three consecutive playoff matches.
FC Goa and Bengaluru FC are among the highest-scoring teams in ISL playoff history, both netting 22 goals—only behind Chennaiyin FC’s record of 25. Additionally, FC Goa leads the scoring charts for semi-final matches with 18 goals.
Across 17 ISL encounters, Bengaluru FC has won seven times, while FC Goa has emerged victorious in five matches, with the remaining five ending in draws.
Ahead of the high-stakes clash, Bengaluru FC’s head coach Gerard Zaragoza emphasized his ambition. “I came to this club to win trophies, and we have three strong teams in the semi-finals. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez also shared his enthusiasm, expressing his desire to lead the Gaurs to their first-ever ISL Cup triumph. “I’m very excited. I want to help FC Goa win the ISL Cup for the first time,” he stated.
With both teams eager to take a step closer to the final, the stage is set for an intense battle at the Kanteerava Stadium.