Bengaluru FC wind up Spain camp, Roca names squad

Bengaluru, August 16: Bengaluru FC went down 0-3 to the UAE's Pro League side Baniyas Club in the final friendly match of the pre-season tour at the Pinatar Arena, in Murcia, Spain on Tuesday.

.@UdantaK was the catalyst once again for the Blues in attack, setting up numerous chances with his pace in the final third. #BANvBFC pic.twitter.com/J5DSPqkop8

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) August 16, 2017

From August 5, the Blues are stationed in Murcia as part of their training camp in the light of preparations for the AFC Cup inter-zone semifinal againt North Korean side 4.25 SC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on August 25.

The Albert Roca-coached squad will continue to train at their base at the Bengaluru Football Stadium once they descend back in the city.

Skipper Sunil Chhetri believes the upcoming match against 4.25 SC will be as much a physical test as it will be mental.

"The three friendlies we played games were against good opposition who came out hard against us. It was good to test ourselves against teams that are technically sound. To put it out there, we have a lot of work to do and very little time to do it in. Stitching a rhythm together for a squad that's almost brand new is always going to be tough. But the boys have been applying themselves and that is encouraging," Chhetri was quoted as saying in the Bengaluru FC website.

Before winding up the camp, the Blues cycled their way to the Pinatar beach, for a light session that saw them share laughs and bond further together as one family.

Meanwhile, Roca announced the 25-man squad for the AFC Cup knockout rounds.

The new-look squad sees as many as fourteen new faces following the Indian Super League draft, and features two graduates from the Blues' residential youth academy in Bellary.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Lalthuammawia Ralte, Abhra Mondal, Calvin Abhishek.

Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Zohmingliana Ralte, Collin Abranches, Joyner Lourenco, Juanan Gonzalez, Nishu Kumar, Prashanth Kalinga.

Midfielders: Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Toni Dovale, Boithang Haokip, Lenny Rodrigues, Alwyn George, Harmanjot Khabra, Malsawmzuala, Robinson Singh.

Strikers: Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Leon Augustine.