Preview: East Bengal eye first ISL derby win over ATK Mohun Bagan

The Red & Gold Brigade are yet to defeat the Mariners in the competition.

The biggest match of Indian football, i.e. the Kolkata Derby, is just around the corner. This ISL season's first Kolkata Derby is set to take place on 29th October, 2022, Saturday. It is one of the oldest fixtures of Indian football. The fixture is of huge significance among the supporters of ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal who often celebrate a derby win with the same enthusiasm of winning a tournament. The craze around Saturday's game is no different in which we are set to witness a sold-out crowd at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium.

The last meeting between ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, in a Durand Cup match, was not able to meet the expectations of fans. Both the teams played scrappy football on that day. ATK Mohun Bagan won by a solitary goal, which was actually an own goal from East Bengal. A lot has happened since then. Now, both the teams will be looking to deliver quality football on Saturday to trump their arch-rivals.

On that note, lets take a look at what the encounter has to offer.

The Stakes

ATK Mohun Bagan

The stakes are always huge whenever it is the Kolkata Derby. The case is no different for Saturday's fixture. ATK Mohun Bagan would like to continue their momentum from the Kerala Blasters match to emerge victorious on derby day. A win on Saturday might prove to be the much needed consolation that fans need following their early exit from the Durand Cup and the AFC Cup inter-zonal semi-final. It will also boost the morale of the team for the upcoming matches.

ATK Mohun Bagan are currently placed on the seventh position with three points. They are just above East Bengal playing a game less. A win on Saturday will take them to the top six of the league table. With a bad start to the preseason tournaments, it is of paramount importance for Juan Ferrando and his men to have a good league season. In that regard, a win on Saturday becomes hugely significant.

East Bengal

The significance of the Kolkata Derby is the same for East Bengal fans as well. They also treat a derby win with the same enthusiasm with which they treat winning a competition. Saturday will be no exception. Winning the derby might actually be more necessary for East Bengal fans as they have lost all the derby matches in the last two years, precisely, six in a row. Four of these were ISL fixtures. The Red & Golds would definitely want to change this stat and taste their first ISL derby win on Saturday.

A win on Saturday is of consequence for East Bengal in terms of their position on the points table as well. Similar to ATK Mohun Bagan, they are also on three points, playing one game more than their arch-rivals. Three points will take them to the top half of the league table, a sight that East Bengal supporters will be craving for. East Bengal's win against NorthEast United came at the right moment for the club as they can build on the momentum from that game to trump the Mariners.

Team News

ATK Mohun Bagan have a fit squad going into the encounter. East Bengal will however, miss the services of Eliandro.

Head-to-Head

To date, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have met 382 times across all competitions and friendly games, among which East Bengal has won 132 times and Mohun Bagan 125 times. 125 games have been draws. In the ISL, after the merger of ATK and Mohun Bagan, ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have met four times. ATK Mohun Bagan have won all those games.

Also Read: ATK Mohun Bagan Vs East Bengal: Key battles that will determine the winners in Kolkata Derby

Probable Line-ups

ATK Mohun Bagan: Vishal Kaith (GK); Pritam Kotal, Brendan Hamill, Ashique Kuruniyan, Asish Rai, Deepak Tangri, Joni Kauko, Liston Colaco, Manvir SIngh, Dimitri Petratos, Hugo Boumous

East Bengal FC: Kamaljit Singh (GK); Sarthak Golui, Lalchungnunga, Ivan Gonzalez, Jerry Lalrinzuala, V.P. Suhair, Jordan O'Doherty, Charalambos Kyriakou, Naorem Mahesh, Cleiton Silva, Semboi Haokip

Man to Watch

Dimitri Petratos (ATK Mohun Bagan)

Dimitri Petratos was the standout performer for ATK Mohun Bagan in their game against Kerala Blasters. He scored a hat-trick against the Yellow Army at Kochi, a feat that is not easy to achieve. The Mariners would expect him to repeat his heroics from that game against the Red & Gold Brigade. If not a hat-trick, the ATK Mohun Bagan fans would definitely want him to score at least once and guide his team towards a steady victory.

Petratos has clearly shown his capabilities in the attacking third in the match against Kerala Blasters. Seasoned by playing for long in the Australian league system, Petratos' form across the season will be pivotal for ATK Mohun Bagan to finish among the top six. The side's attacking prowess and lack of a quality foreign striker were widely criticised after their early exit from the aforementioned preseason tournaments. The entry of Petratos in the playing XI has however, changed the narrative to some extent. Now, it is to be seen how much consistent he is across the entirety of the competition.

Cleiton Silva (East Bengal)

Cleiton Silva is the most in-form attacker for East Bengal. He has been playing well for the side right from their Durand Cup campaign. Cleiton scored in East Bengal's win against NorthEast United and threatened to score more by creating numerous chances throughout the game. With not many good options in attack, East Bengal fans would be looking at him for goals in Saturday's fixture.

Cleiton has already proven his mettle in ISL with Bengaluru FC and has emerged as one of the most promising players for East Bengal within the limited time he has been with the club. He played a significant role in East Bengal's win against NEUFC and would like to continue from where he left in that match. If the East Bengal midfielders are able to support him well, it is very likely that he might score again on Saturday.

Did You Know?

• The Kolkata Derby, locally known as 'Boro Match' meaning the big match, is considered to be one of the fiercest football rivalries in Asia.
• The first Kolkata Derby was played on 8th August 1921 was in a now disbanded Coochbehar Cup.
• The Kolkata Derby witnessed the largest audience in any sporting event in India in the 1997 Federation Cup semi-final where 1,31,000 fans packed the Salt Lake Stadium. East Bengal won the match 4-1 courtesy, a Bhaichung Bhutia hat-trick.

Telecast

The match between ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will take place at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, West Bengal, on October 29 (Saturday). The kick-off time is 7:30 pm IST. The match will be telecasted live on the Star Sports Network. Disney+HotStar and JioTV will also stream the match.