Menno Koch scored at both ends on the opening day, and Bengaluru FC host Chennaiyin at the Kanteerava tonight
Bengaluru FC have won the last four meetings with Chennaiyin FC, who drew 1-1 at FC Goa in their ISL opener. Kick-off in Bengaluru is at 7:30pm IST.
Oct 17, 2026
Menno Koch had a full afternoon of football on the ISL’s opening day. He turned a cross into his own net to put SC Delhi 2-1 up, and with a minute of normal time left he headed the winner at the other end. Bengaluru FC beat Delhi 3-2, and on Saturday Koch and his team-mates are back at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium against Chennaiyin FC. Kick-off is at 7:30pm IST.
It is the second game of the 2026-27 season for both sides. Bengaluru have three points, Chennaiyin one.
Bengaluru won it late, and not cleanly
Pep Muñoz’s side were in front after 22 minutes through Borja Martínez, a summer signing making his debut, who struck a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. That lead lasted four minutes. Rodriguinho equalised, and in the 32nd minute Juan Pena broke into the box and crossed for Koch to deflect into his own goal.
Delhi led at half-time and had the better of the game for long spells. Bengaluru only took control after Muñoz changed his midfield and brought on Soham Varshneya. Borja levelled in the 75th minute, finishing from the left of the box after a pass from Mihailo Perović, and Koch headed in a Varshneya delivery in the 89th minute to win it.
The comeback was the story. The two goals conceded will be what Muñoz takes from it. Delhi overloaded the middle and got at his defence for an hour, and Chennaiyin will have watched that closely.
Chennaiyin’s point at Fatorda
Clifford Miranda’s side started with a 1-1 draw at FC Goa on the same day. After a goalless first half, Irfan Yadwad drove a right-footed shot into the far corner to put them ahead midway through the second, and Chiki headed in Goa’s equaliser from a free kick in the 75th minute.
For a club that finished one place above the relegation zone last season, with two wins from 13 games, a point at Goa was a reasonable start. Chennaiyin kept faith with Miranda over the summer, giving their first Indian full-time head coach a multi-year contract extension in July.
They have one fitness question. Glan Martins was taken off in the first half at Fatorda, and it was not clear afterwards whether he had picked up an injury.
Williams and a run of four
Bengaluru have won the last four meetings between the clubs: 1-0 at home in February 2024, 4-2 in Chennai in December 2024, 1-0 at home in February 2025, and 2-1 in Chennai in May on the last day of the 2025-26 season.
Ryan Williams scored four of Bengaluru’s eight goals in that run. He got the only goal in February 2024, two in the 4-2, and one in May. Against Delhi he was a threat down one flank with Borja on the other, and Chennaiyin’s full-backs will spend the evening dealing with both.
Chennaiyin do have one good memory of this ground. They won the 2017-18 ISL final here on 17 March 2018, coming from behind to beat Bengaluru 3-2 after Sunil Chhetri’s early goal, with Mailson Alves heading in two corners. That was a long time ago, and the recent meetings have belonged to Bengaluru.
Every ISL match this season streams on SonyLIV and free on YouTube, with selected games on Sony Sports Network.