The 2017–18 season was Bengaluru FC's fifth season as club since its establishment in 2013. This was club's first season in Indian Super League.
Background
In 2016–17 season Bengaluru FC got mixed results. Club failed to defend their league title, finished fourth in the I-League. The club did well in the Federation Cup, won their second cup title in four years by defeating Mohun Bagan 2–0 in final. Bengaluru FC finished the season well by advancing to AFC cup knock–out stage by beating Maziya S&RC in a must win game and keeping hope alive to better their previous seasons record in AFC Cup where Bengaluru FC finished runners–up.
On 11 May 2017, it was announced by the Indian Super League organizers, Football Sports Development, that they would be inviting bids for new teams to join the league for the upcoming season. Bengaluru FC had submitted a bid from Bengaluru. On 12 June, it was officially announced that Bengaluru FC (for Bengaluru) and Tata Group (for Jamshedpur) had won the bids for the new teams.
Transfers
Due to the Indian Super League regulation each club is allowed to retain a maximum of two Indian players over the age of twenty-one (21). On 30 June, Bengaluru FC announced they are retaining the captain Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh. Bengaluru FC also retained defenders John Johnson and Juanan. Goalkeeper Amrinder Singh parted ways with the club. He was retained by Mumbai City. Bengaluru FC announced signing of Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu on 5 July. Winger C.K. Vineeth switched the side. He joined Kerala Blasters. On 11 July Bengaluru FC announced signing of Spanish midfielder Dimas Delgado who last played for A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers. On 17 July Spanish winger Antonio Dovale was signed for a season. On 21 July, the club announced retention of under-22 players, defender Nishu Kumar, midfielder Malsawmzuala and striker Daniel Lalhlimpuia for a season.
In ISL draft held on 23 July 2017, Bengaluru FC retained goalkeepers Lalthuammawia Ralte and Calvin Abhishek, midfielders Lenny Rodrigues, Alwyn George and Harmanjot Khabra. Bengaluru FC added eight new players from draft, goalkeeper Abhra Mondal, defenders Joyner Lourenco, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Zohmingliana Ralte and Collin Abranches, midfielder Boithang Haokip and striker Thongkhosiem Haokip.
Eight players from Bengaluru FC were signed by other clubs in the draft. Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya signed by Mumbai City. Defender Keegan Pereira, midfielders Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Shankar Sampingiraj were signed by Atlético de Kolkata. Defenders Rino Anto and Lalchhuan Mawia were signed by Kerala Blasters and Pune City respectively. Striker Seminlen Doungel and defender Gursimrat Singh were signed by NorthEast United.
Bengaluru FC announced signing of midfielders Bidyananda Singh and Robinson Singh for two years on 31 July. On 7 August the club announced signing of Spanish forward Braulio Nóbrega for a season. Bengaluru fc added their academy graduates defender Prashanth Kalinga and forward Leon Augustine to the squad for 2017 AFC Cup knockout rounds. On 17 August Bengaluru FC announced signing of India national football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from Norwegian side Stabæk FC for an undisclosed transfer amount.
On 29 August Bengaluru FC announced signing of Venezuelan international striker Miku for two years. The club announced signing of Spanish winger Edu García for one year on 3 September.
During winter transfer window, Bengaluru FC released injured striker Braulio Nóbrega and signed another Spaniard Daniel Segovia on 15 February 2018, in a short-term deal till the end of the season. Bengaluru also agreed to the transfer for Edu García to China League One side Zhejiang Greentown for an estimated transfer fee for $150,000. In the process, Bengaluru FC became the first club receive a transfer fee from a foreign club. Bengaluru signed Spanish midfielder Víctor Pérez Alonso as a replacement on a short team deal for the rest of the season.
In No.PositionPlayerPrevious clubTransfer feeDateRef 46 Erik Paartalu Al KharaitiyatFree agent 5 July 2017 9 Dimas Delgado Western Sydney WanderersFree agent 11 July 2017 49 Antonio Dovale Rayo VallecanoFree agent 17 July 2017 2 Rahul Bheke East Bengal N/A 23 July 2017 27 Subhasish Bose Mohun Bagan N/A 23 July 2017 35 Zohmingliana Ralte Aizawl N/A 23 July 2017 48 Thongkhosiem Haokip East Bengal N/A 23 July 2017 1 Abhra Mondal Chennai City N/A 23 July 2017 12 Boithang Haokip Mumbai City N/A 23 July 2017 3 Collin Abranches Ozone N/A 23 July 2017 29 Joyner Lourenco Sporting Clube de Goa N/A 23 July 2017 — Bidyananda Singh Atlético de Kolkata N/A 31 July 2017 38 Robinson Singh Mohun Bagan N/A 31 July 2017 9 Braulio Nóbrega Doxa Free agent 7 August 2017 39 Leon AugustineBengaluru FC Academy N/A 16 August 2017 27 Prashanth KalingaBengaluru FC Academy N/A 16 August 2017 45 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Stabækundisclosed 17 August 2017 7 Miku Rayo Vallecano Free agent 29 August 2017 13 Edu García Real Zaragoza Free agent 3 September 2017 12 Daniel Lucas Segovia Neftçi PFK Free agent 15 February 2018 44 Víctor Pérez Alonso Wisła Kraków Free agent 2 March 2018
Out No.PositionPlayerNew clubTransfer feeDateRef1 Amrinder Singh Mumbai City N/A 1 July 201726 Cameron Watson Madura United N/A 12 July 201731 C.K. Vineeth Kerala Blasters N/A 5 July 201714 Eugeneson Lyngdoh Atlético de Kolkata N/A 23 July 201713 Rino Anto Kerala Blasters N/A 23 July 201723 Lalchhuan Mawia Pune City N/A 23 July 201727 Arindam Bhattacharya Mumbai City N/A 23 July 20175 Keegan Pereira Atlético de Kolkata N/A 23 July 201716 Shankar Sampingiraj Atlético de Kolkata N/A 23 July 20177 Seminlen Doungel NorthEast United N/A 23 July 201733 Gursimrat Singh NorthEast United N/A 23 July 2017 9 Braulio Nóbrega Released15 February 2018 13 Edu García Zhejiang Greentown $150,000 23 February 2018
Pre-season and friendlies Bengaluru FC, having completed the squad selection at 2017–18 ISL Players Draft, arranged a 10-day pre-season training camp in Murcia, Spain before facing North Korean side April 25 Sports Club. During the tour, the blues were scheduled to face Segunda División B side UCAM Murcia CF and UAE Pro League side Baniyas Club in the friendlies. Later, a friendly against FC Cartagena was added as well. Bengaluru FC lost all three friendlies. During the AFC cup campaign, Bengaluru FC played India national under-19 football team and won with a solitary goal from Daniel Lalhlimpuia.
After the conclusion of 2017 AFC Cup and before 2017–18 Indian Super League, Bengaluru FC played two games against the former I-League rivals East Bengal F.C., behind closed doors. The first game on 25 October 2017 ended in a draw with Surabuddin Mollick and Miku scoring a goal each for their respective teams. Bengaluru FC won the second friendly 3–1. Udanta Singh scored a brace, whereas Miku scored the third goal. Bengaluru FC then played two friendlies against I-League debutant, Gokulam FC, winning both games 2–0 and 3–1, respectively. Before the international break, Bengaluru FC played two more friendlies with Chennai City F.C., drawing the first 2–2, and winning the second friendly 6–1. In the final friendly before ISL, Bengaluru FC played yet another I-League side Minerva Punjab F.C., and lost the game 2–3.
Competitions Overview
Indian Super League
Summary
November
Bengaluru made their ISL debut against Mumbai City on 19 November 2017 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Roca handed starts to new foreign signings, Edu García and Miku. Despite wonderful link up play between the forward duo of Chhetri and Miku, the hosts lacked finishing in the final third in the first half. There was hardly any opportunities created by Mumbai themselves as they chose to sit deep and Bengaluru dominated the game. In the second half, Bengaluru scored their first goal in ISL, courtesy a short corner routine, when Edu Garcia drilled one past former BFC man Amrinder Singh at the near post at the 67th minute. A defensive mix up in added time meant that Chhetri could get his name on the scoresheet and sealed a 2–0 victory for the blues. Bengaluru continued the form against Delhi Dynamos, whom they defeated 4–1 with Erik Paartalu scoring a brace and Miku scoring his first goal for the club. However, they conceded a penalty late in the second half when John Johnson was adjudged to have a handball inside the penalty area. Bengaluru played their first away game of the season against FC Goa on 30 November 2017. In the action packed first half, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was sent off and Bengaluru conceded three goals. With the team down to 10-men, Bengaluru managed to equalize score with Miku's brace at 3–3, but once Goa took the lead with Coro's hat-trick in 63rd minute, Bengaluru could not find an equalizer and tasted the first defeat of the season.
December Bengaluru FC kicked off the month of December with an away game against NorthEast United on 8 December. Bengaluru FC made multiple changes, including bringing in Lalthuammawia Ralte to replace Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who was suspended for 2 games. Miku scored the only goal of the match to ensure the first away win of the season for Bengaluru FC. Bengaluru played third consecutive away game against FC Pune City on 14 December. Facing the crowded schedule ahead, Bengaluru FC chose to start without John Johnson and Edu García. After lack of clear chances initially, Pune City took the lead from Adil Khan's header. However, after Pune City's Baljit Sahni was sent-off after second yellow card, Bengaluru FC made the best of the situation and scored 3 goals in the second half with Miku scoring a brace and Sunil Chhetri scoring the final goal of the game in stoppage time. Bengaluru FC returned home against Chennaiyin on 17 December 2017. Chennaiyin's stubborn defence contained Bengaluru FC attack and inflicted 1–2 defeat on the home team, with Sunil Chhetri scoring the only goal for Bengaluru. Playing against the fellow debutant Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru conceded the late penalty to lose the game 0–1. In a highly anticipated match, Bengaluru FC faced Kerala Blasters on the New Year's Eve. The first half remained goalless in the first half, but Bengaluru FC took the lead with Sunil Chhetri's penalty in the second half. The stoppage time saw a flurry of goals, including a brace from Miku and Bengaluru won the game 1–3.
January Bengaluru played the first game of 2018 at home against ATK on 7 January 2017 and won it 1–0 courtesy a goal from Sunil Chhetri in first half. With upcoming fixtures of 2018 AFC Cup, Bengaluru FC rotated the squad against bottom-placed Delhi Dynamos FC. However, the rotation did not work out as Bengaluru faced 2–0 defeat away from home. Still on the road, Bengaluru faced Mumbai City FC on 18 January 2018. Sunil Chhetri scored a brace against his former team and with a goal from Miku, Bengaluru registered a comfortable 3–1 win and climbed back to the top of the table. Bengaluru secured another win at home against the highlanders, NorthEast United FC in the final game of January. Juanan and Sunil Chhetri scored a goal in each half to secure 3 points for the home team.
February