Nepal take on defending champions India in a crucial SAFF Championship fixture in Bengaluru on Saturday, with semi-final hopes at stake.

Nepal lost to Kuwait 3-1 in their opening game, meaning they must defeat India, who humiliated Pakistan 4-0 in their opener, at their home to keep the last four hopes alive.

Kuwait and Pakistan date in the early kick off on Saturday before Nepal lock horns with India. It also means the outcome of the Kuwait vs Pakistan match will have a direct impact on the Nepal-India clash.

Overall, Vincenzo Alberto Annese’s Nepal are in a do-or-die situation and that is why, the Italian called Saturday’s clash “like a final”.

India—who are looking to win a record-extending ninth SAFF crown—will start as clear favourites against Nepal at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The Asian Cup playing nation have never lost a match at home against the Gorkhalis in their eight meetings, with India winning six while two ending in draws.

India are the only south asian nation to have qualified for the Asian Cup 2023.

India also dominate the SAFF Championship head-to-head against Nepal. They have faced off eight times in the biennial competition. Nepal’s only victory against India came during the 2013 SAFF Championship at Dasharath Stadium when they won 2-1 in group match.

Across the board, Nepal and India have played against each other on 24 occasions in the past. Of them, Nepal have won three, while four matches were drawn.

Despite that Nepal have always remained tough opponents for India throughout their south Asian footballing history.

“Nepal always throw us a strong challenge. I believe that the match between Nepal and India will be very enthralling. I am waiting for that moment,” India assistant coach Mahesh Gawli said after the Pakistan match on Wednesday.

The mauling of Pakistan had extended India’s clean sheet to seven matches.

Annese will be under pressure to deliver despite the coach still testing a young and inexperienced squad. The Italian had less than two weeks to connect with the national team due to the recently concluded Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League.

Most of the players of the Nepal squad that reached their first and only SAFF final in Maldives in October 2021 have immigrated abroad looking for a bright future.

But the exodus has given a window of opportunity for the new stars in Sanish Shrestha, Aashish Chaudhary, Laken Limbu, Nabin Lama, Bimal Pandey, Awash Lamichhane and Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri to shine in the national colours.

Annese, who said will adopt an aggressive style of play against India, seems to have found the missing piece of front three in Ayush Ghalan whose substitution off the bench in the second half had drastically changed Nepal’s attacking approach against Kuwait.

Anjan Bista, who netted his 12th international goal on Wednesday, is at his prime and will be aiming to move alongside Hari Khadka and Nirajan Rayamajhi in the all-time scoring chart for Nepal.

Lama and Lamichhane will remain key options in the midfield.