ISL 2018-19: FC Pune City 0-3 Bengaluru FC, 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

#1 Marcelinho's off-day hurts Pune

Marcelinho wasn't able to impact proceedings [Image: ISL]

Over the course of the last season, Marcelinho and Emiliano Alfaro were talismanic figures for Pune, and the most instrumental in their rise to the playoffs last season. In this game, they both took turns at being caught offside, and largely spent the game doing nothing.

It was not a particularly intelligent set-up from Portugal as well. With Marcelinho playing in the centre, he is easy to mark and it makes it harder for him to isolate defenders and then trouble them with his skill on the flanks.

Bengaluru's two full-backs are the weak links in their defence. Rahul Bheke has had an uncertain start to the season. Nishu Kumar, who has been fabulous in the first three games, is still only young and can be troubled if attacked in the right spaces.

Most importantly, what Marcelinho playing in a wider position would've done is that it would've dragged one of Bengaluru's central midfielders towards that flank in a bid to keep his quiet, and that would have offered a lot more peace to the Pune midfield, who were all at sea.

Marcelinho didn't help himself either, as he lost the ball a little too easily, with just not enough care going into his passing. Most of his set-pieces, too, were not good enough for a team-mate to attack with conviction. With his side now having a solitary point in three games, there can be no better time for the Brazilian to stop his slumber and drag his side up the standings.