Top five East Bengal to watch out for against Al-Shorta SC in ACL Two 2026-27
East Bengal will face off against the Iraq Stars League champions Al-Shorta SC in the ACL two clash in Kolkata.
East Bengal FC are gearing up for another crucial continental challenge on October 13, 2026, when they will face Iraqi Stars League champions Al-Shorta SC at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 campaign, before beginning their title defence in the Indian Super League (ISL).
This will be the second match for both teams in Group D, with the Red and Gold Brigade enjoying home advantage.
The Torchbearers, under the guidance of head coach Antonio Lopez Habas, will look to combine defensive stability with attacking intent to overcome the stern challenge posed by the Iraqi side and secure all three points.
East Bengal have already demonstrated their ability to compete against continental opposition, having defeated Kuwait’s Al-Arabi SC 4-1 to qualify for the group stage. However, the Torchbearers began their Group D campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Jordanian club Al-Hussein in their opening fixture.
Meanwhile, Al-Shorta SC will pose another formidable challenge for the Kolkata giants. The Iraqi side heads into the contest on the back of a 1-0 victory over Al-Seeb in their opening Group D fixture, setting the stage for an intriguing encounter against East Bengal.
Here are the top five East Bengal players to watch out for in their AFC Champions League Two clash against Al-Shorta SC.
1. Anwar Ali
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Anwar Ali will be one of the key players for the Red and Gold Brigade in this crucial clash against Al-Shorta SC. He will need to be at his best to keep the Iraqi side’s attacking threat under control.
The Torchbearers will have a better chance of securing a positive result if the centre-back and his defensive partner, Diego Živulić, maintain their discipline at the back.
Anwar will need to coordinate effectively with his defensive partners, as Al-Shorta possess the attacking quality and experience to punish defensive errors. He will be a key figure for the Kolkata giants in dealing with aerial duels and dangerous deliveries into the penalty area.
Anwar’s distribution will be equally important for Habas and his side. East Bengal will look to build attacks from the back whenever possible, and the centre-back’s ability to play accurate forward passes could help the team bypass Al-Shorta’s initial press.
2. Daniel Ramirez Fernandez
When East Bengal plays the Iraqi outfit Al-Shorta SC in the all-important ACL Two clash, Dani Ramírez might be one of their most important players. The Spanish attacking midfielder is a constant threat in the opposition’s penalty area because of his exceptional technical skill and ability to play between the lines.
There will be a lot of expectations for East Bengal’s in-form midfielder Daniel Ramirez Fernandez, who is flying high on momentum. He scored a good goal following a rebound from Edmund’s initial shot in the first group stage match against Al-Hussein SC, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Ramirez has shown his quality for the Torchbearers with a few goals and some stellar assists so far in the AFC competitions, the Durand Cup and the IFA Shield, and he will look to produce his best performance yet for the East Bengal outfit.
The midfielder is arguably the most experienced playmaking option that East Bengal have, and he will need to thrive under pressure. Ramirez has to be smart with his link-up play, finding his teammates in space and keeping Al-Shorta’s defenders guessing.
He needs to be efficient on the counter-attack, timing his runs perfectly to evade the defenders and get into dangerous areas.
Ramirez might not get a plethora of goal-scoring chances against the Iraqi side, but he needs to ensure that he can clinically finish or create any major opportunities that come his way in order to enhance East Bengal’s chances of winning this important clash.
3. Mohammed Basim Rashid
The Palestinian midfielder will be one of the key game changers for East Bengal in this thrilling clash against Al-Shorta SC. He has proved himself last season as well as this season so far, which is why he has been one of the best recruits for the Moshal Brigade in the midfield in recent years.
Rashid’s ability to influence the game from midfield through his physical presence, attacking movement and shooting ability makes him a key player for the Torchbearers. He was in excellent form during the AFC Champions League Two qualifier against Kuwaiti club Al-Arabi SC, scoring a brilliant goal and providing an assist to play a decisive role in East Bengal’s emphatic 4-1 victory.
He also delivered an impressive performance against Jordanian side Al-Hussein SC in East Bengal’s opening Group D fixture.
His ability to make late runs into the box and contribute in the final third could make him a key player for the Red and Gold Brigade against Al-Shorta. His intelligent runs and ability to support the attacking line are added advantages for any team he plays for.
Therefore, the Al-Shorta defence will need to remain very alert to neutralise the constant threat posed by Mohammed Rashid in this ACL Two clash in Kolkata.
4. PV Vishnu
PV Vishnu has emerged as one of East Bengal’s most prolific and interesting attacking threats over the past few years and could play a crucial role against Al-Shorta in the ACL Two clash. Vishnu could be a key player for Habas on the flanks, helping build attacks and deliver crosses and passes for David Lalhlansanga, Edmund Lalrindika, Ake Loba and Lukasz Zwolinski.
Vishnu’s pace and directness could trouble the Iraqi club’s defence line, particularly when he gets space in the wide areas. His ability to take on defenders and make aggressive runs behind the backline could provide an important dimension to East Bengal’s attack in this game.
Vishnu has also shown that he can produce goals and provide crucial match-winning assists in the decisive moments of the game. So if East Bengal midfielders Ramirez, Rashid and others can create situations where Vishnu receives the ball in dangerous areas, his sheer pace can be the key weapon for the Moshal Brigade in the all-important AFC clash.
5. Lukasz Zwolinski
The Red & Gold Brigade moved swiftly to sign the 33-year-old striker for this season despite some doubt regarding their centre-forward position due to the general difficulties in completing the signing of Effiong Nsungusi.
Zwolinski is one of East Bengal’s most seasoned players, having played professionally in Europe for 14 years. The Polish striker has made around 250 appearances in the top division of the Polish Ekstraklasa.
He has even made a couple of appearances in the qualifiers for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League! Zwolinski scored three goals while playing for Poland’s U-20 team.
The 33-year-old striker should definitely raise the tempo in East Bengal’s frontline and help strengthen their goal-scoring acumen against Al-Shorta. He’s a pretty physical striker who has gained a ton of experience in getting into dangerous areas and scoring goals efficiently.
Lukasz Zwolinski has already scored a goal on his debut against NorthEast United FC in the recently concluded IFA Shield.
His unpredictability in attack, poaching instincts inside the penalty box, and ability to inspire comebacks in difficult situations could add greater dynamism to the Red and Gold Brigade’s frontline, making him one of the key players to watch out for against Al-Shorta SC.
When is East Bengal vs Al-Shorta SC match?
East Bengal FC will face Iraqi Stars League champions Al-Shorta SC at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 campaign, before beginning their title defence in the Indian Super League (ISL), on October 13, 2026.
Where fans can watch the match live?
Fans can watch the match live on the FanCode App.
What is the kick off time?
The match will kick off at 7:15 PM (IST).
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.