Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters, Opening Match of ISL 2025/26 - Match Preview

byAnik Nandi -

Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters
ISL'25-26 Opener Match Preview


"When you win, you don't get carried away. But if you go step by step, with confidence, you can go far." - Diego Maradona

Mohun Bagan has won two National titles in a row, which puts them at the doorstep of doing a three-peat – an achievement that has never been achieved by any club in Indian Football history. If anyone can do it, the National Club of India is right on top of the list.

After Mohun Bagan lifted the ISL Shield and ISL Cup, they played 3 tournaments, placing quarter-finalist in Durand Cup, winning the IFA Shield by defeating the rivals in the final and exiting the Super Cup in the Group Stage. Despite winning one trophy, the performance of the Mariners has been below average to say the least. To turn the tides, the new coach-in-charge has taken it upon himself to bring the necessary changes and get back to winning ways. The necessity of topping the league this year will also be to serve the AFC ban that bars the club from participating in international tournaments and hence, return to normalcy next year.

All fans around the world can let down a sigh of relief. After months of uncertainty and worry, ISL Season 2025/26 is finally happening! With huge fanbases, KBFC has been quite a rival to Mohun Bagan in ISL with amazing scorelines and blockbuster highlights. It’s been more than a year but the memory still gives the chills when we imagine Alberto’s added time banger floating into the net to give MBSG the win with a 3-2 scoreline. This ISL season, both teams get just one chance to prove who is better. With anticipation and excitement filling our hearts, the world awaits to watch Mohun Bagan take on KBFC in the opening match of the season at the historic VYBK on 14th February, 2026.


Tactical Analysis: -

Since the last ISL Season, Coach Jose Molina got replaced by Sergio Lobera. The Spaniard Coach has plenty of ISL experience. It was his dream to coach the star-studded team of Mohun Bagan for the longest time, and he can finally show the world how brilliant his tactics can be with the right players in-hand. With the likes of Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Mehtab Singh and latest signing, Amey Ranawade, Mohun Bagan has upgraded its defence by a significant lot. This will allow the coach to field more foreigners in the attacking half. In his style of play, he prefers to go out all guns blazing with diverse methods of fast transitions across the field with wing-backs in support for applying high pressure and breaking offside traps. With more emphasis on the offense, Sergio wants to make the match entertaining for the fans by scoring more goals even at the cost of conceding a few. With the expectation of thrilling scorelines, let’s see how the team shapes up for the match.

The first-choice goalkeeper for the Mariners will be Vishal ‘Flying’ Kaith. With injured Asish Rai being unavailable for the rest of the season, Tekcham ‘The Jewel’ Abhishek Singh is the first choice for right wing-back. Central defence will be in the hands of Alberto ‘The Monster’ Rodriguez and Mehtab ‘The Rock’ Singh. Left wing-back role will be filled by none other than Subhasish ‘Captain Cool’ Bose. In the midfield, Apuia ‘The Dependable’ Ralte will be accompanied by Sahal ‘Maestro’ Samad in an all-attack mentality with high pressing. As the left winger, the new foreign signing who replaced Greg Stewart, Brazilian Robson ‘Magician’ Robinho will showcase his skills in front of the Mariners crowd. Due to this development, Liston ‘Golazo’ Colaco will operate from the right wing. The Second Striker responsibility falls on the shoulders of none other than Dimitrios ‘Dimi-God’ Petratos who will take this opportunity to prove his calibre once again in front of the Mariners. Up front, the Aussie sensation, Jamie ‘Macca’ Maclaren will be the striker in the box. Substitutes will include Aussie Jason Cummings, Tom Aldred and Anirudh Thapa who are likely to come on in the 2nd half of the game.


After sending Adrian Luna on loan and signing a contract agreement for one season with Mohun Bagan for Amey Ranawade, KBFC has made tons of new signings, with a fresh batch of foreigners, most of whom will grace the sport for the first time on Indian soil. Their new Spanish coach, David Catala likes to control the midfield with a 4-2-3-1 formation. He focuses on positional discipline and compact defensive block. With structured movements instead of counter-attack heavy tactics, the team will try to control the match from the midfield and create overload on the sides.

KBFC will field their new goalkeeper signed from Mohun Bagan Arsh Shaikh at goal. In defence, Bikash Yumnam, Hormipam, Oumar Bah (from Spain and Guinea Nationality) and Naocha Singh is likely to start. Defensive midfield will be covered by Spanish foreigner Matias Hernandez who will be accompanied by Danish Farooq and apple’s eye of KBFC fans, Vibin Mohanan. Marlon Ross, a German international who played for the U-17 National Team will play as CAM. On the left wing, KBFC will field a foreigner who rose from PSG Academy and even played for the B-Team, Kevin Yoke. With ex-Mariner Salahuddin still in rehab, Nihal Sudeesh is expected to start on the right wing. In the box, their new Spanish striker, Victor Bertomeu will play the role.



Predicted XI: -

Mohun Bagan SG (4-2-3-1): Vishal Kaith, Subhasish Bose (C) - Alberto Rodriguez - Mehtab Singh – Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Apuia Ralte – Sahal Abdul Samad, Robson Robinho - Dimitri Petratos – Liston Colaco, Jamie Maclaren

Coach: Sergio Lobera

Kerala Blasters FC(4-2-3-1): Arsh, Hormipam – Bikash - Oumar Bah - Naocha Singh, Matias – Danish (C), Kevin – Vibin – Nihal, Victor

Coach: David Catala


Mohun Bagan is clearly the superior squad and it all comes down to how match-fit the squad is after a huge break in the football season. With an expectation of a dominating win, the players will grace the field on Saturday with thousands of Mariners cheering for them from the stands and other supporters glued to the screens to witness experimental KBFC who travelled from Kerala to face the defending Champions in the opening game of ISL 2025/26.


🎯 ISL Season 2025/26  

⏰ 14th Feb,2026; 5:00 PM IST

🏟 Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata 

📡 Fancode (OTT), Sony Sports 2 (TV)  🎶


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