I-League 2014-15: Pune FC begins campaign away from home; plays Salgaocar FC in opener

For the second consecutive year, Pune FC will begin their I-League campaign with multiple games away from home facing Salgaocar FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on January 17th, 2015.

The Round-1 game will also be the third time Pune FC face Salgaocar in Goa this season after playing them in the Durand Cup final and the Federation Cup group stage.

Pune FC then head south to face defending champions Bengaluru FC (January 24) in the second round before coming back to Pune.

Fans will have to wait for the first home game of the season until Round 3, when Pune FC takes on Shillong Lajong on Thursday, January 29 at the Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi.

The game will be followed by a high intensity Maha-Derby against Mumbai FC (February 1) at home. Pune FC then travel to Kolkata to face Mohun Bagan (February 7), before hosting Dempo (February 14) Sporting Goa (February 21) and newly-promoted Royal Wahingdoh (February 28) in Pune.

The month of March sees Pune FC play four away games beginning with a clash against East Bengal (March 7) in Kolkata, before playing as the away team in the first ever Pune-Derby against Bharat FC on Saturday, March 14. The following week Pune FC play state rivals Mumbai FC (March 22) at the Cooperage in Mumbai before heading north-east to play Royal Wahingdoh (March 29).

The month of April begins with a massive Pune-derby as the home side against local rivals Bharat FC on Saturday, April 4th. The big game is followed by two more home games against Salgaocar FC (April 7) and East Bengal (April 11).

Pune FC then travel to Goa to face Dempo SC (April 18) before coming back to Pune to play their final home games against champions Bengaluru FC (April 21) and Mohun Bagan (April 25).

The season ends with two away trips in May to face Shillong Lajong in Shillong (TBA) and Sporting Goa (TBA) in Fatorda.

Salient Features

• For the second season in a row, Pune FC begin with two away games.
• Pune FC begin and end their campaign in the coastal state of Goa. Incidentally, Pune FC also began their competitive season in Goa with the Durand Cup in October followed by the Federation Cup
• After two years of playing their final game at home, Pune FC will be playing away for the final game once again.
• For the first time ever, Pune FC will have a local rival in Bharat FC with the two city derbies scheduled on March 14 (Away) andApril 4 (Home) to be played at the Balewadi Stadium.
• Pune FC will face arch-rivals Mumbai FC in the Maha-Derby on February 1 (Home) and March 22 (Away).
• Out of the 10 home games, Pune FC play six on Saturdays, two on Tuesdays and one each on a Sunday and Thursday.