The most-awaited clash of Indian Football League 2020-21 between arch-rivals Mohun B. and East Bengal will be played on Friday. The Kolkata derby is the biggest in Indian Football, and both sides are in splendid form with recent I-League success.
Team Preview
East Bengal will debut in Indian Football League with a high-voltage clash with its biggest rival, Mohun B. Both clubs have witnessed 369 matches called Kolkata Derby, and it will be the biggest Football treat for Indian fans on Friday. Both clubs met only once in the last season of I-League, and Mohun B had the final laugh with a 2-1 win at home. Mohun B is the most successful side in the history of Kolkata Derby, and they are yet again the favourites to win this year's Kolkata derby.
Mohun B. started its campaign with a 1-0 victory over Kerala in the season opener, thanks to Roy Krishna’s goal in the 67th minute. It was yet another winning start for Antonio Habas, who has won the title of this league twice with Kolkata. After the merging of Kolkata and Mohun B, Habas won his first match with a newly-formed unit. In the last edition, Kolkata finished second in the table and later went on to win the title by defeating Chennai in the final.
In I-League, Mohun B was the winner of 2019-20 scoring 39 points, and they had a 16-points difference with East Bengal. Mohun B. are unbeaten from 15 matches, including a 14-match unbeaten streak in I-League. Kolkata's bench is also strong, and they can come in as a substitute to change the game.
Meanwhile, East Bengal will play its first match of this new season and has got a full one-week to prepare more for the opening clash. In its maiden season at Indian Football League, East Bengal would aim to find the glory, and under Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, the team is going to be a formidable opponent to beat. They have signed a fine set of overseas players such as Anthony Pilkington and Daniel Fox. The team’s Indian lineup is also pretty strong and have showcased their talent in the last season of I-League, where they finished second in the table.
They haven’t won the I-League title in the last 16 years, and they would keen to end this title drought this season. Fowler needs to boost his mind to finalise the main lineups for this clash, and his first task is against the most successful club. Jeje Lalpekhlua and Eugeneson Lyngdoh are marking a comeback after injuries, and Bengal would expect these two to show spark in this match. Pilkington is their best signing this year. The Ireland international has experience of 15 years, and he has played for various English clubs. Pilkington also scored a brace in East Bengal’s pre-season victory against Kerala.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
East Bengal
Lineup: Mirshad Michu, Lalramchullova, Daniel Fox, Scott Neville, Samad Ali Mallick, Matti Steinmann, Mohammed Rafique, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Anthony Pilkington, Jacques Maghoma
Pre-season form - Beat Kerala 3-1
Mohun B.
Lineup: Arindam Bhattacharya, Tiri, Jhingan, Kotal, Subhasish Bose, Edu Garcia, M. Soosairaj, J. Rane, Javi Hernandez, David Williams, Krishna
Previous outing - 1-0 victory over Kerala
Key Players
East Bengal
Anthony Pilkington
2 goals in pre-season 2020
Mirshad Michu
2 clean-sheets in I-League 2020-21
Mohun B.
Roy Krishna
15 goals & 6 assists in Season 2019-20
1 goal in Indian Football League 2020-21
David Williams
7 goals & 5 assists in Season 2019-20
