NorthEast United have conceded once in three games, and unbeaten Bengaluru can go top in Guwahati
The ISL leaders host a Bengaluru side with two wins from two on Friday night. Bengaluru have won nine of the sides’ ISL meetings, but NorthEast have already beaten Mohun Bagan at home this season.
Oct 30, 2026
Two of the ISL’s unbeaten sides meet in Guwahati on Friday night. NorthEast United are top with seven points from three games, and Bengaluru FC, fourth with six points from two, would go above them with a win. Kick-off is at 7:30pm IST.
NorthEast: one goal conceded in three games
Juan Pedro Benali’s side opened the season by beating Mohun Bagan 1-0 at home, with substitute Jithin MS scoring two minutes into stoppage time after a save came back off the post. They then put four past Kerala Blasters, winning 4-1 with two goals from Alaaeddine Ajaraie.
The run of wins stopped in Bhubaneswar on 24 October. NorthEast had six shots on target against Odisha and Hrithik Tiwari saved all of them, and Ajaraie hit the post with a stoppage-time penalty. It finished 0-0. One goal conceded in three games is the joint-best defensive record in the league, along with East Bengal, who have played a game fewer. The point kept them top, level with Punjab FC on seven but ahead on goal difference.
Bengaluru have been waiting a while
Bengaluru last played on 17 October, when Ryan Williams and Mihailo Perović scored in a 2-0 home win over Chennaiyin. Their opener was messier. Borja Martínez scored twice against SC Delhi, but Menno Koch’s own goal had Delhi 2-1 up at half-time, and Bengaluru needed Koch’s 89th-minute winner to take it 3-2.
That is two wins from two for Pep Muñoz in his first full season in charge, after he took the club to fourth last term. Thirteen days without a game can cut both ways. The legs should be fresh, but NorthEast have played twice since Bengaluru last kicked a ball.
The record says Bengaluru
The head-to-head is lopsided. Bengaluru have won nine of their ISL meetings with NorthEast, and NorthEast have won two. This NorthEast side has not shown much respect for reputations so far, though. Mohun Bagan came to Guwahati as the bigger name for NorthEast’s first game and went home with nothing.
Ajaraie against Menno Koch and the Bengaluru centre-backs is the matchup to watch. If Bengaluru keep him quiet, Williams, Perović and Martínez have shown they can score enough to win it. If he gets loose, NorthEast’s defence has given away so little that one goal might do.