After hat-trick of draws, Odisha targets win

Josep Gombau’s side comes into this tie after playing out three successive draws, two goalless results against ATK and Kerala Blasters, followed by a 2-2 draw away to Chennaiyin FC.The pattern of play in all these matches have been similar.

It dominated the ball with slick movement and passing, but failed to take its chances and convert its dominance into results.As Gombau seeks to deliver results, he faces a tough challenge in Bengaluru FC.

The Blues are undefeated in the league so far and boast a water-tight defence which has conceded only two goals insix matches.

Odisha will bank on Aridane Santana, who has scored four goals so far, to help breach the Bengaluru backline. But much will depend on playmaker Xisco Hernandez who has the ability to carve open any defence. He has also shown his eye for goals, racking three goals up so far.

The Spaniard will be pumped up for the battle against his former team and will play a huge role in the outcome of Wednesday’sencounter.

Much will also depend on the midfield battle as two technically-gifted sets of players go up against each other. The likes of Marcos Tebar, Vinit Rai and Xisco Hernandez love to get on the ball anddictate play.

But so do Bengaluru’s midfielders, Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado and Raphael Augusto.Bengaluru comes into this game after a gut-wrenching 1-1 draw in Hyderabad where an injury-time equaliser from Robin Singh denied it a win.

Cuadrat’s team was all over Hyderabad FC throughout the game and should have scored more goals to put the tie to bed.Lack of goals have been a worry for the Blues despite Sunil Chhetri’s recent scoring run. The injured Michael Onwu and Ashique Kuruniyan are yet to open their accounts for the season while Udanta Singh has just one goal to his name so far.

The Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton in the third round of the FA Cup and Manchester United taking on Wolves are the highlights of the draw as Premier League teams enter the competition.

Other third-round matches include Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest, defending champion Manchester City hosts Port Vale, Middlesbrough faces Tottenham and Arsenal was drawn at home to Leeds United.

The matches will take place between January 3-6.Manchester United will be wary against Wolves which eliminated the Old Trafford side in the quarter-finals of last year’s FA Cup.