AFC Cup 2017: Bengaluru FC vs Istiklol - Probable starting XI for the Blues

Midfielders

Possible lineup and shape for the game

Dimas Delgado

Spanish new signing Dimas Delgado had a poor first leg as he failed to make an impact on the game's proceedings in Hisor. However, Roca has acquired the player with a certain understanding of his talents that include not giving away cheap possession with the ability to create attacking openings for his strikers ahead.

Delgado will have to put in a solid, hard shift along with his midfield partners who he will just play ahead of, in what I believe will be a 3-5-2 formation employed by the Spanish manager Roca.

Eric Paartalu

New recruit from the A-League Eric Paartalu will be a vital figure in the side at Kanteerava as he will revert back to his holding midfield role after filling in at centre back during periods of the game in Hisor.

With Johnson back in defence, Paartalu will be giving license to intercept play in the middle of the park, an area where BFC was beaten in the first leg.

Lenny Rodrigues

Paartalu will play alongside Lenny Rodrigues, who has proved to be an excellent passer and interceptor of the ball in the middle of the park for Bengaluru. Rodrigues was overrun in the first leg and will be eager to play in the AFC Cup final.

Rodrigues and Paartalu will be midfield enforcers for BFC and will have to play in an aggressive manner with attacking intent that justifies their titles as enforcers for the Indian side.