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It’s time for the most important fixture of Indian football once against as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be going head-to-head again in the return leg of I-League 2018-19 season.
East Bengal won the previous leg by 3-2, which was also their first win in Kolkata Derby after 32 months. Laldanmawia Ralte scored a brace and Jobby Justin scored the other goal for East Bengal. Azharuddin Mullick and Dipanda Dicka scored for Mohun Bagan.
With 22 points from 12 matches, East Bengal stand in the fourth position of the league table. Mohun Bagan are on sixth with 21 points from 13 matches. A win could lift East Bengal in the second place, whereas Mohun Bagan too could have their last shot with another three points.
No matter what, the match would be exciting as always and let us look at the three reasons why you should not miss the match on Sunday.
#3 Last one in I-League
In all probability, the upcoming Kolkata Derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be the last fixture of these two iconic clubs, as both of them are expected to play Indian Super League from next season. For that, both teams will try to mark the occasion memorable.
On December 30, 2007, the two teams met each other for the very first time in I-League. Mohun Bagan won that match courtesy a solitary goal from Bhaichung Bhutia. The Sikkimese came to haunt East Bengal again in the second leg as his brace was enough to make a Derby Double in favour of Mohun Bagan.
On that note, East Bengal will try to replicate the same as they have already won the first leg this season. East Bengal have the distinguished record of winning the very first match between these two sides way back in 1925, when the red and golds defeated Mohun Bagan 1-0, thanks to Nepal Chakroborty’s lone goal.
Combining National Football League and I-League, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have played each other 43 times. The red and golds won 16 times whereas Mohun Bagan won 14 matches, while 13 matches ended in stalemate. East Bengal have scored 25 goals whereas Mohun Bagan scored two more than their arch-rivals.
It needs to be seen what kind of drama awaits for the fans when the teams meet for the last time in I-League.
#2 Chance for East Bengal to secure first Derby Double since 2003-04 season
The last time East Bengal won both the legs against Mohun Bagan in this tournament was as many as 15 years ago. After two days, they will have one more chance, and probably the final one in this tournament, to repeat that feat.
In 2003-04 season, East Bengal won both the matches by 2-1 margin. For the red and golds, Dipankar Roy and Nigerian Mike Okoro score in the first leg and Bhaichung Bhutia and Cristiano Junior scored in the second. Ashim Biswas scored for Mohun Bagan in both the fixtures.
In fact, it was a fabulous season for East Bengal. They have not only won the NFL for the second successive time that season, but also became the first Indian club to win AFC ASIAN Cup, beating Bec Tero Sasana that year.
When the NFL was rechristened as I-League in 2007-8 season, Mohun Bagan won both the legs back then. By that time, Bhaichung Bhutia switched his allegiance over to Mohun Bagan and his three goals (one in the first leg and two in the second) made sure East Bengal remain winless in the Kolkata Derby.
East Bengal will have the opportunity to make revenge this time.
#1 Stadium attendance
The Kolkata Derby is the most important match of Indian Football. Even the glitzy and glamorous Indian Super League could not attract as many fans as Kolkata Derby in a match.
Thanks to the ISL, Indian fans have witnessed so many big names of world football in front of their eye in the past few years. But somehow, they believe in not-so-famous foreigners only for this match.
In July 13, 1997, in the Federation Cup semi-final, the match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan was witnessed by 1,31,781 spectators, a record for Indian football. Bhaichung Bhutia became the first player to score hat-trick in a Derby as East Bengal won by 4-1.
The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata had the capacity of more than one lakh. As a result of the renovation for U-17 World Cup and installation of bucket seats, the seat number came down to 67 thousand.
In the first Kolkata Derby of this season, there were more than 65 thousand spectators. Come Sunday and the number may increase.
