East Bengal have gone winless in their last eight ISL clashes with Mohun Bagan, conceding at least two goals in each match. In a bid to turn their fortunes around, the struggling team will face their fierce rivals in the highly anticipated ISL Kolkata derby on Saturday under new head coach Oscar Bruzon. The first derby of the season, originally set for the Durand Cup in August, was called off due to security issues during the RG Kar protests, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the match. Since then, East Bengal’s season has gone downhill.
Following four straight defeats, last season’s Super Cup-winning coach Carles Cuadrat was dismissed. East Bengal, the only team yet to win in the 13-team standings, are under pressure, and Bruzon is tasked with improving their form.
Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan have shown attacking strength but struggled defensively, conceding seven goals in their first four games. They sit in fourth place with two wins, one draw, and one loss, and aim to solidify their defense in this crucial derby.
Jose Molina’s team gained confidence from a 3-0 win over Mohammedan SC, as they look for back-to-back victories and clean sheets for the first time this season. At Salt Lake Stadium, Mohun Bagan has been an offensive force, scoring in all 12 home ISL matches in 2024, netting at least twice in 11 of them. They’ve scored 29 goals at the venue this year, the second-highest total at a single location in a calendar year.
Their attacking stats are equally impressive this season, with an average of 7.3 shots on target per game and a shooting accuracy of 55.8%, the best in the league. No team has matched these numbers across a full ISL season, making Mohun Bagan a formidable opponent for any defense.
East Bengal will have Bruzon as the second coach to face Mohun Bagan in his ISL debut. Historically, East Bengal has struggled with new managers in their first matches, and Bruzon will aim to change that. Cuadrat remains the only coach to keep a clean sheet in his first game in charge of East Bengal.
East Bengal’s Madih Talal has made the most passes into the final third of any player in this ISL season, with 83, and has completed the most successful passes in this area in the 2024-25 season, making him a key player for their attack.
For Mohun Bagan, Dimitri Petratos has five goal contributions in past derbies against East Bengal, but he has scored just once in his last six ISL games. Greg Stewart, in strong form after providing two set-piece assists in his last match, will be crucial to Mohun Bagan’s attack with his dead-ball delivery.
Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish Bose commented on the importance of the derby, saying, “A team can lose all its matches in a season, but it enters a derby with a different energy. A team that has lost many games will be even more desperate for a win.” He added that Mohun Bagan’s goal is to keep winning and stay at the top of the table. Their attack will also benefit from the return of India midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad, who missed recent matches due to a hamstring injury but is expected to be available for the derby.
