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Finally, it’s time for the most anticipated match in Indian football – the Kolkata Derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. And it's only a few hours away.
Termed one of the fiercest rivalries of the world, the Kolkata Derby will be a treat for football fans across the world.
The two Kolkata giants will face each other for the first time in this edition’s I-League. Considering their standing on the league table, this match is equally important for both the teams.
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan both have nine points from six matches, but the red and gold are two spots above their arch-rivals. A win for either side could boost the team's confidence for the rest of the season.
East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez, who was formerly associated with Real Madrid’s youth team, compared this game with El Clasico at the pre-match press conference. “Both the games are keenly contested and followed by a large number of supporters. We want to give our supporters a gift by winning this match,” the gaffer said.
On the other hand, Mohun Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakrorborty, who had played this match in his career, said, “The match will be emotional. But we are taking it as another game.”
ALSO READ: Can Mohun Bagan cope without Sony Norde?
For East Bengal, a win will not only put them ahead on the league table, but will also break the seven-match jinx. The Red and Gold have not won against their arch-rivals for more than 22 months, seven matches precisely. Three of them were draws while Mohun Bagan have snatched victories on the other four occasions.
But Sunday's match is the best chance for EB to stun their rivals. We give you three reasons why:
#3 Defenders are showing confidence
East Bengal's defence looked clueless in their first home match against Chennai City FC. The Spanish brigade of Chennai not only dominated in the opponent’s half, but also taught them how to play tiki-taka.
It was thought before the start of the season that there would be good understanding between two Spanish-speaking defenders Borja Gomez and Johnny Acosta. The first two matches were relatively easy given the inability of their opponents. But the Chennai match was a real test for Borja and Acosta and they failed miserably.
Their worst performance came against Aizawl FC, who exploited the gap and miscommunication between the defenders. A defeat to Minerva proved that something needs to be changed.
Alejandro is an experienced coach and he didn’t take much time to find out the actual problem. World Cupper Johnny Acosta was benched and Salam Ranjan Singh was introduced in his place. To be honest, Salam was far better in his role against Gokulam Kerala.
There is every possibility that Salam will start alongside Borja against Mohun Bagan. He has grown in confidence since that win over Gokulam and the coach could reward him with a first-team start again.
The task could be easier for the defenders against Mohun Bagan. Sony Norde is already out of the match, which is a big advantage for the East Bengal defenders. Moreover, Henry Kisekka and Dipanda Dicka – Mohun Bagan’s two trusted lieutenants - are yet to find their rhythm.
But they would need to be cautious too as both Dicka and Kisekka are capable of changing the match with just one move. If the Red and Gold defenders show more confidence, then the game could easily end in favour of East Bengal.
#2 Jaime Santos could be the trump card
The Kolkata Derby is a game that decides the future of many players. Some went on to become heroes while some turned villain overnight. A poor display in this game has seen many players spend the rest of the season on the bench. A good performance, on the other hand, earns a player a legendary status in the club.
Take the latest example of Johnny Acosta. The Costa Rican made his debut against Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League three months ago. Though he scored a goal which eventually helped his team earn a point, his defensive mistakes were not overlooked and come Sunday, he is expected to warm the bench.
ALSO READ: Katsumi Yusa scores I-League's fastest goal?
The stage is, however, set for Jaime Santos Colado, East Bengal’s latest Spanish signing, to win the heart of the supporters. Santos has been practising with the club for at least a week now and has already done the necessary paperwork. He, in all likelihood, will feature against Mohun Bagan.
He is a completely unknown player in Indian football, coming directly from the Sporting Gijon youth academy. He has a habit of scoring from distance and can operate from both the wings.
He played under Alejandro Menendez in Gijon and has a good understanding with the Spanish coach. The depleted Mohun Bagan side might endure a torrid time in stopping him.
Menendez confirmed that Santos will play at least a few minutes against Bagan on Sunday. He said, “The team is training very well and is high in confidence after the last win. The loss of Enrique Esqueda is bad for us, but now we have to think about the players that can play. Santos will play some minutes in the game.”
Green and Maroon coach Sankarlal Chakroborty praised the young winger in his pre-match press conference, “Santos has good speed and first touch. He is young and we have to be cautious.”
Come Sunday and Santos could be the player who can steal the limelight.
#1 No Sony Norde in opponents' line-up
“No, Sony will not be there tomorrow. He is out for two weeks due to the injury.”
These words from Mohun Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakraborty brought relief among the East Bengal supporters and probably the players too.
East Bengal coach will be facing their arch-rivals for the first time on Sunday. But the supporters and some of the players know very well what the Haitian playmaker can do.
It’s true that Norde has scored only one goal in this fixture out of seven occasions. But he can create instant fear among the rival defenders with his tricky moves and dribbling.
It’s true that Mohun Bagan outplayed East Bengal early this year without Norde. The Haitian had also not played in the last meeting between the two clubs in the Calcutta Football League (CFL). But Norde is an omnipresent figure of the Green and Maroon club and his absence will surely be an advantage for East Bengal.
Pintu Mahata, who could have filled the void, will also miss the game on Sunday. If East Bengal defenders could cut the link between the midfielders and strikers for those 90 minutes, the match could be theirs.
