Bengaluru FC ended their league stage campaign with 30 points and could possibly finish fourth, should Chenniayin FC win their final league game against NorthEast United.
Bartholomew Ogbeche (45th, 72nd minutes) scored a brace to take his tally to 13 goals this season, while Deshorn Brown (16th) was the lone scorer for Bengaluru FC.
Semboi Haokip's goal in Thimphu last week gives the Blues a vital advantage and Carles Cuadrat's men will bank on their solidity at home to get the job done.
Bengaluru FC, the defending champions, are coming off a 2-0 defeat against Mumbai City FC and will be eager to get back to winning ways. Odisha FC, on the other hand, are on a four-game winning streak which has established them firmly in the top four.
Defensive mistakes cost Bengaluru dear and helped Mumbai's cause as Modou Sougou (13th) took advantage of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's error to give his team the lead.
The result sees Bengaluru rise to the second spot with 19 points from 11 games, just two shy of FC Goa who continue to top the table.
After a goalless first-half that the visitors dominated, Bengaluru took the lead through captain Sunil Chhetri (59').
Sporting activities took a hit in Guwahati last week after an ISL game and a Ranji Trophy cricket match were suspended on October 12 because of curfew.
Centre-back Juanan (36th minute) scored his first goal of the season to secure Bengaluru's third win of the season and take them to the top of the table.
Josep Gombau's side come into this tie after playing out three successive draws, two goal-less results against ATK and Kerala Blasters, followed by a 2-2 draw away to Chennaiyin FC.
The South Indian rivals will look to make the most of a charged atmosphere in front of expectant supporters at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday and breathe life into their campaigns.
Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu got the ball rolling for Bengaluru with the opening goal (14th minute) before captain Sunil Chhetri made it 2-0 with a sensational strike in the 25th minute.
The Blues picked up a third consecutive draw in as many games since the start of this season when they faced off against Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Subrata Paul was the star of the show for the home team, making several stunning saves, while his opposite number Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also had a big part to play, pulling off some wonderful saves of his own.
The Men of Steel have made a good start to the ISL season, having picked up six points in two games against Odisha FC and Hyderabad FC.
Ferran Corominas' penalty cancelled out Udanta Singh's opener for the Bengaluru FC as both sides settled for a point each.
Debuts were handed out to several new signings, including Asamoah Gyan, Raphael Augusto and Ashique Kuruniyan but the teams couldn't be separated at the end the riveting contest.
The Bengaluru-based side have been synonymous with consistency in India domestic football history. After three years of success in the I-League, they joined ISL in 2017 and made an instant impact.
The Blues registered a come-from-behind win against NorthEast United FC in the two-legged playoff en route the final in 2018-19.
Bengaluru FC head coach Carles Cuadrat has said that the side fees no pressure of being the defending champion.
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