BANGALORE: Pune FC with four wins on the trot stands a best chance of closing in the gap for the top-place in the League, when they take on bottom-placed HAL Bangalore at the KFA ground in the 24th round I League clash on Tuesday.

Pune FC head coach Derrick Pereira said, “The game is as important as any other. Under estimating the opponent would be foolhardy.”

HAL with most defeats, most goals conceded and no home wins apart from the lone draw in 10 matches, justify the position they are in. However, what can make them tough customers is nothing-to-lose attitude, something Mohun Bagan learnt during the stubborn 0-0 draw HAL forced in Kolkata.

“Our aim will be to be focused and mentally make up our minds to go out to score quickly,” Pereira quipped.

“They are a good side and putting them under pressure will be the way out.”

With the dice loaded in Pune’s favour, HAL’s overdependence on their striker Hamza for goals, who incidentally has remained Pune FC’s nemesis, is another factor that the visitors will need to check and cut the Bangalore side from springing a surprise.

Hamza has scored seven of HAL’s 13 goals so far and to date has opened the scoring in three of the four games he has played against Pune FC.

Pune stay on 40 points from 22 matches while HAL stare at relegation with 8 points from 22 points. The Bangalore side stay desperate for a win as a loss will virtually ring exit bells for them from the top-tier.

The last time the two teams met, Pune FC won 3-1.

Head to Head in I League:

Total Matches: 3

HAL won: 1

Pune FC won: 2

Drawn:  Nil

Goals scored by HAL Bangalore: 3

Goals scored by Pune FC: 5

Meeting in First Leg:

Pune FC 3 (Subhas Singh; Mandjou Keita -- 2)

beat

 HAL Bangalore 1 (A Hamza).