The highly anticipated Kolkata Derby returns to the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 as Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC clash at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday, March 10th, at 8:30 pm IST.
Since their last encounter in February, both teams have undergone significant changes. East Bengal FC, in particular, showcased an impressive form, riding high on confidence following their victory in the Kalinga Super Cup. In contrast, Mohun Bagan Super Giant struggled with three consecutive losses in the league.
Under the guidance of head coach Antonio Lopez Habas, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has undergone a remarkable transformation, maintaining an unbeaten streak in the top-tier. With four wins and two draws in their last six matches, they are now within striking distance of the top spot in the league.
Currently holding 33 points from 16 games, Mohun Bagan Super Giant could potentially equal league leaders Mumbai City FC, who have 36 points, with a victory. Notably, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has a game in hand compared to Mumbai City FC, who have played 18 games so far.
On the other hand, East Bengal FC is experiencing a dip in form, suffering three losses in their last five games. Despite this, the team has managed to secure 18 points from as many games. A win in the upcoming match would bring them level with the sixth-placed Jamshedpur FC, who have accumulated 21 points from 19 matches.
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When and where can you watch the East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan match?
The matches will be broadcasted on linear channels such as Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 HD (English). For those preferring online streaming, the matches will be available live and free on JioCinema.
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What’s at Stake For Both The Teams
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s head coach, Antonio Lopez Habas, has praised his players for their significant progress, emphasizing their cohesive teamwork and determination to achieve positive results consistently.
In their history in the ISL, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has never lost to East Bengal FC in seven encounters, winning six and drawing one match. The only time they failed to secure a victory against the Red & Gold Brigade since 2020 was in a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture.
With nine games played against Odisha FC without a loss, Mohun Bagan Super Giant boasts an impressive record, second only to their fixture history against Odisha FC in the competition. Their attacking prowess is evident, leading the league in goals scored from open play, totaling 27 goals.
Remarkably, alongside Hyderabad FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant is the only team yet to convert a penalty kick in the ongoing campaign. As the race for the ISL League Winners Shield intensifies, with Odisha FC, Mumbai City FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant in contention, every point matters. Even though the Kolkata Derby holds immense significance, Habas will undoubtedly strive to ensure his team doesn’t drop points in the upcoming match.
East Bengal FC
Carles Cuadrat, the head coach of East Bengal FC, has set the ambitious goal of securing all 12 points available in their remaining four matches. While their playoff qualification relies on other teams dropping points, Cuadrat emphasizes the importance of his team performing at their peak to secure their first ISL victory against their city rivals, Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
East Bengal FC recently ended a three-game winless streak at home with a crucial 1-0 win against Chennaiyin FC at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Under the guidance of Carles Cuadrat, East Bengal FC has shown steady improvement, evident in their defensive record. With 19 goals conceded in 18 games, this is their lowest defensive tally at this stage in any ISL season.
Offensively, East Bengal FC has also shown promise, scoring 19 goals in the current campaign, their second-best tally at this stage compared to previous seasons, trailing only behind the 21 goals scored in the 2022-23 campaign.
East Bengal FC leads the league in tackle success rate, boasting an impressive 73.1%, which is over seven percentage points higher than their city rivals, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who have a 65.9% success rate. Their ability to win 185 out of 234 tackle attempts in the 2023-24 campaign highlights their defensive prowess and determination on the field.
Key Player to Watch Out For
Mohun Bagan Super Giant: Dimitrios Petratos
Dimitrios Petratos proved his worth in the previous Kolkata Derby by scoring the equalizer, showcasing his dynamic presence in Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s frontline throughout the season.
With 18 goal-scoring opportunities created since the beginning of 2024, Petratos leads the pack among players yet to register an assist in the same timeframe. In 14 appearances this campaign, he has scored seven goals and provided one assist. Petratos has taken 36 shots, with half of them hitting the target.
In addition to his attacking contributions, Petratos has been instrumental in creating 30 goal-scoring chances and maintains an impressive passing accuracy of 81%, averaging 30 passes per game. He has also drawn 14 fouls and displayed prowess from free-kicks, showcasing versatility in his gameplay.
East Bengal FC: Naorem Mahesh Singh
Naorem Mahesh Singh has been a consistent presence in the attacking lineup of East Bengal FC this season, contributing with both goals and assists. With two goals and two assists to his name, he is poised to make history as the first player in the club’s ISL history to start 50 matches.
Already holding the record for the most appearances for East Bengal FC in the ISL with 54 matches, Mahesh Singh’s experience is invaluable to the team. In the current campaign, he has drawn 30 fouls, won five aerial duels, and maintains a passing accuracy of 74%, averaging 26 passes per game.
While Mahesh has taken nine shots and created 26 goal-scoring opportunities, his role as a supporting player to Cleiton Silva and Nandhakumar Sekar has been crucial to East Bengal FC’s attacking prowess this season. Keep an eye on Mahesh Singh for his contributions on the field and his potential to make an impact in the upcoming Kolkata Derby.
Head-to-Head Record:
Total Matches Played: 7
Mohun Bagan Super Giant Wins: 6
East Bengal FC Wins: 0
Draws: 1
East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat expressed confidence and motivation among his players ahead of the match, emphasizing the importance of delivering a strong performance. He acknowledged the team’s positive results in previous Kolkata derbies this season.
“My players are very motivated. It’s going to be a very good game. We have gotten very good results so far in the Kolkata derbies held this season,” East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat said in the pre-match press conference.
On the other hand, Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Antonio Lopez Habas acknowledged the significance of the upcoming match, recognizing it as a different challenge with new circumstances. He highlighted the contrasting objectives of the two teams, with East Bengal FC aiming for a top-six finish while Mohun Bagan Super Giant is focused on securing the top spot in the league standings.
“We are confident. But this is a totally different game, with different players and a different situation altogether. East Bengal FC is in a race to be in the top six, whereas we are fighting for the first place,” Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Antonio Lopez Habas said ahead of the game.
When & Where to Watch: Streaming Details
Fans across the country have multiple options to catch the action in various languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. The matches will be broadcasted on linear channels such as Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam), News 18 Kerala (Malayalam – select matches), and DD Bangla (Bengali).
For those preferring online streaming, the matches will be available live and free on JioCinema, the premier platform for Indian football. Additionally, as part of FSDL’s collaboration with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches for the 2023-24 season will be accessible across more than 190 countries, providing a global audience with access to the excitement of Indian football.
