Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal | Durand Cup Derby Preview

byTeam MBFT -

From supporting Nations to defending Colours, Asia's Greatest Rivalry returns!



The month-long carnival that brought the world together has finally come to an end. For weeks, Kolkata, like every other corner of the globe, lived and breathed the FIFA World Cup. Every neighbourhood adopted a nation to support. The city's lanes came alive with murals, flags and larger-than-life tributes to football's biggest stars, transforming familiar streets into celebrations of the greatest game.

Football, which was already the language of the city, became more frequent as conversations spilled from bustling tea stalls to evening addas, from crowded cafés to late-night watch parties. Every goal, every controversy and every tactical decision was dissected long after the final whistle, giving the city something new to celebrate, debate or mourn. Football lovers willingly traded sleep for the beautiful game, witnessing iconic goals, stunning upsets, last-minute winners and heartbreaks that felt more personal than ever. Friendships were tested over Messi and Ronaldo, Yamal and Mbappé, Brazil and Argentina.The world celebrated football together and as usual, Kolkata celebrated it a little louder than everyone else.



In Kolkata, football never disappears for long. It simply changes colours. The colours of distant nations now fade away, giving way to Green and Maroon and Red and Yellow - the colours that have defined this city for well over a century!

Once again, the city prepares to sort itself, not for countries separated by continents, but for two clubs separated only by history, pride and an unending rivalry. The World Cup may decide who rules world football but in Kolkata, the football season truly begins when Mohun Bagan and East Bengal lock horns for the ultimate showdown!

And what better way to begin the season than with the biggest fixture Indian football has ever known?

The Kolkata Derby is more than a football match — it is Indian football's greatest spectacle!

On 25th July, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal FC meet once again under the floodlights of the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in the prestigious Durand Cup. The oldest football tournament in Asia could not have asked for a grander opening act. A rivalry that has outlived generations, survived wars, political movements, changing eras and countless footballers, yet somehow continues to feel just as fierce every single time these two clubs meet.

Every derby arrives with its own story.

For Mohun Bagan, the wounds of last season are still fresh. Last season promised so much for Mohun Bagan. Expectations surrounded the Mariners from the very beginning. A talented squad, renewed ambitions and the belief that another successful campaign awaited the Green and Maroon faithful. There was even the prospect of making history, with a third consecutive league title, a feat that would have completed a remarkable three-peat for the first time. But football has a habit of rewriting expectations. In a truncated league where every point carried even greater significance, the title race was decided by the finest of margins.

Despite remaining competitive throughout the campaign, Mohun Bagan ultimately finished second, and rivals East Bengal lifted the trophy on goal difference. Among the Mariners, however, last season's title is often remembered less as East Bengal's triumph and more as the three-peat that slipped away. For a club that measures itself by success and trophies, the disappointment was never just about losing the title. It was about watching a place in history slip away.

Fortunately, football rarely dwells on the past for long. The calendar always offers its greatest gift – Another Beginning!

A new season brings fresh hope, fresh challenges and another opportunity to reclaim what slipped away. While the Durand Cup alone will not define the campaign ahead, the Kolkata Derby has always carried significance far beyond the trophy at stake. A victory here restores belief, builds momentum and often sets the emotional tone for everything that follows.

Yet, if history has taught us anything, when it comes to Boro Match, it refuses to obey logic. League tables become irrelevant. Previous results lose meaning. Form disappears the moment the referee blows the opening whistle. Players who struggled a week earlier suddenly become heroes, while established stars can fade into the background. The Kolkata Derby has never cared for reputations. It rewards courage, composure and those willing to seize the moment!



The battle will not be confined to the pitch. It extends to the technical area as well. Mohun Bagan enter a new era under Greek tactician Panagiotis Dilmperis, whose impressive work with Punjab FC earned him the responsibility of leading one of Indian football's biggest institutions. The Kolkata Derby will offer the new Head Coach, his first true taste of what it means to manage a club of such big legacy, heritage and stature as Mohun Bagan.

Standing in the opposite dugout will be a familiar face. Antonio López Habas needs little introduction to Mohun Bagan supporters. One of the most successful coaches in Indian football, Habas once walked into the Green and Maroon dugout midway through a difficult campaign following Juan Ferrando's departure and transformed a faltering season into a title-winning one. This time, however, the Spaniard joins Red and Yellow, determined to begin his East Bengal journey by defeating the club where he once wrote one of the finest chapters of his coaching career.

~: Probable Starting XI :~



Mohun Bagan (4-3-3): Vishal Kaith (GK)(C); Abhishek Singh Teckcham - Mehtab Singh - Rahul Bheke - Subhasish Bose ; Apuia - Anirudh Thapa - Sahal Abdul Samad ; Manvir Singh - Suhail Bhat - Liston Colaco.
Coach: Panagiotis Dilmperis.

Emami East Bengal FC (4-3-3): Gill (GK); Anwar Ali (C) - Sandip Mandi - Hardik Bhatt - Jay Gupta ; Jeakson Singh - Rohit Kumar - Edmund Lalrindika ; Bipin Singh - David Lalhlansanga - PV Vishnu.
Coach: Antonio Lopez Habas.

~: Tactical Analysis :~

Mohun Bagan will look to impose themselves from the flanks. Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco have both the pace and directness to stretch the East Bengal backline, while Sahal Abdul Samad remains the creative heartbeat capable of turning promising attacks into clear-cut chances. Suhail could start as the striker who can find the back of the net in this crucial high-tempo fixture.

Control, however, begins in midfield. Should Apuia and Anirudh Thapa establish their rhythm early, Mohun Bagan will dictate both possession and territory, allowing their forwards to play on the front foot.

Yet the biggest challenge may arrive the moment possession is lost. East Bengal possess enough pace through Bipin Singh and PV Vishnu to punish even the slightest lapse, and few coaches understand transitional football better than Antonio López Habas. Derby matches often hinge on a single mistake, making defensive concentration just as valuable as attacking flair.

The World Cup reminded us why Football is the World's Game. The Kolkata Derby reminds us why, in the City of Joy, football is so MUCH MORE than just a game! As thousands prepare to fill the Salt Lake Stadium and millions more settle in front of television screens across the country, another chapter in Indian football's oldest rivalry remains to be written.

~: Date, Timing, Venue and Where to Watch :~

📆 July 25th, 2026 (Saturday)
🕔 5:00 PM IST
🏟️ Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
📺 Sony Sports Network.
📱 SonyLIV App.

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