BKMA II vs Bentonit Ijevan - First League

The First League returns to the home ground on May 5, 2026, where BKMA II and Bentonit Ijevan will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. Manchester City face the K-League All-Stars in Seoul as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

Both camps will view the First League meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. Confidence is coursing through the home camp, with LWWLW in their last five and a season win rate of 71.43% underscoring their momentum. The visitors have been a steady presence on the road, WWLDW in their last five and a campaign win rate of 50%. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. The Reds continue to retain an interest in the midfielder Manu Kone and left-back Lewis Hall, while one remaining high-profile departure this summer could come in the form of Marcus Rashford.

Pressing intensity will define the contest. BKMA II will seek to win the ball high up the pitch and suffocate Bentonit Ijevan's build-up, while the visitors will aim to play through the pressure and exploit the spaces it leaves behind. Tuesday's print edition of ABC, as relayed by Sport Witness, have claimed that Betis turned down a €50m approach from a wealthy non-Premier League club for Antony.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. Paris Saint-Germain finally picked up their first win of the Ligue 1 season as Ferran Torres scored the only goal at Brest.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 4-4 draw feels like a fitting result. Whatever the outcome, the First League fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Manchester City will begin another Premier League season with major uncertainty hanging over the club after league chief executive Richard Masters admitted the long-awaited verdict on their financial case has taken longer than expected.