The highly anticipated first Kolkata Derby of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season is set to ignite the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday as in-form Mohun Bagan face a beleaguered East Bengal.
Originally scheduled for the Durand Cup in August, the derby was postponed due to security concerns. Since then, East Bengal’s fortunes have taken a downturn, with four consecutive defeats leading to the departure of coach Carles Cuadrat. The Red and Gold Brigade remain winless in the 13-team standings, piling pressure on interim coach Manuel Bruzon to turn things around.
In contrast, Mohun Bagan have showcased their attacking prowess but have been vulnerable defensively, conceding seven goals in their first four games. The Mariners will be eager to maintain their momentum and extend their unbeaten run against their arch-rivals.
East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan Squads:
East Bengal:
* Goalkeepers: Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Debjit Majumder
* Defenders: Hijazi Maher, Lalchungnunga, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Nishu Kumar, Mark Zothanpuia, Mohamad Rakip, Provat Lakra
* Midfielders: Souvik Chakrabarti, Saul Crespo, Jeakson Singh, Madih Talal, Vishnu P.V., Sayan Banerjee, Aman C.K., Tanmay Das, Shyamal Besra
* Forwards: Cleiton Silva, Dimitrios Diamantakos, David Lalhlansanga, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Nandhakumar Sekar
Mohun Bagan:
* Goalkeepers: Vishal Kaith, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Syed Zahid Hussain Bukhari
* Defenders: Alberto Rodriguez, Asish Rai, Dippendu Biswas, Subhasish Bose, Sumit Rathi, Tom Aldred, Amandeep Vrish Bhan
* Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Deepak Tangri, Glan Peter Martins, Abhishek Dhananjaya Suryavanshi, Greg Stewart, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lalengmawia Ralte, Muhammed Ashique Kuruniyan, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh
* Forwards: Dimitrios Petratos, Jason Cummings, Jamie Maclaren, Suhail Ahmed Bhat
Head-to-Head Record:
The two Kolkata giants have faced each other 394 times, with East Bengal holding a slight edge with 139 wins to Mohun Bagan’s 129. However, in the ISL, Mohun Bagan have dominated, winning seven of their eight encounters.
When and Where to Watch:
The ISL match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be broadcast live on Sports 18 SD and HD. The live streaming will be available on JioCinema.
