Durand Cup 2025 preview: Mohun Bagan aim to kick off tournament with win in mini derby against Mohamedan SC

Mohun Bagan are the Group B of the Durand Cup 2025.

Mohun Bagan kick off their Durand Cup 2025 campaign when they face off against Kolkata rivals Mohammedan Sporting in a Kolkata Derby on Thursday, 31 July 2025.

The Mariners will be looking to start Group B in an emphatic fashion with a win over the Black Panthers, who are going to look to pop a surprise to make a statement of intent.

The Stakes

Mohun Bagan

Mohun Bagan came up short in the 2024 Durand Cup campaign, losing in the final to NorthEast United. That is why they’ll be particularly determined to go all the way and reclaim the title won by them in the 2023 edition. The Mariners might not use their foreign players that extensively for the Durand Cup group stages, but they have enough quality among their domestic core to trouble Mohammedan Sporting.

The Mariners will be determined to play some exciting, clinical attacking football and take the fight to their rivals to kickstart the Durand Cup campaign in dominant fashion. A big win for Mohun Bagan will set things up nicely for them to top Group B, but a loss or draw can be an unnecessary setback that impacts the morale of the squad.

Mohammedan Sporting

Mohammedan Sporting are enduring a difficult period after being handed a transfer ban from FIFA because of their ongoing financial issues. The Black Panthers had a tough start to their Durand Cup campaign, suffering a 2-1 loss to Diamond Harbour. However, it’ll be a nice chance for the younger players in the squad to prove their quality to play against the best Indian football has to offer.

The Mohammedan Sporting players will be fighting hard to frustrate Mohun Bagan with their stringent defensive shape and look to hit them on counter-attacks. A narrow win can be huge for Mohammedan Sporting’s hopes of making it past the group, but a crushing defeat can make the mood around the club even gloomier.

Team News

Mohun Bagan

Mohun Bagan are not unlikely to field any foreign players in the group stages of the Durand Cup, while Manvir Singh is facing a fitness issue ahead of this game.

Mohammedan SC

Mohammedan Sporting should have the same squad that played in the loss to Diamond Harbour FC.

Head-to-Head record

Matches Played – 2

Mohun Bagan wins – 2

Draws – 0

Mohammedan SC wins – 0

Probable Lineups

Mohun Bagan (4-2-3-1)

Syed Hussain Bukhari (GK), Raj Basfore, Dippendu Biswas, Muhammad Bilal, Amandeep, Deepak Tangri, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Kiyan Nassiri, Salahudheen K, Liston Colaco, Suhail Bhat

Mohammedan SC (4-2-3-1):

Subhajit Bhattacharya (GK), Joseph Lalmuanawma, Paogoumang Singson, Pukhrambam Dinesh Meitei, Sajad Parray, Tangva Ragul, Yash Chickro, Sajal Bag, Lalthankima, Ashley Alban Koli, Adison Singh

Key Players to Watch

Suhail Bhat (Mohun Bagan)

Suhail Bhat is eager to play a more prominent role for Mohun Bagan in the 2025-26 season, and compete with the foreign players for game time as their no.9. To do so, however, Bhat will need to be at his very best in the Durand Cup. He will need to use this tournament as a platform to prove himself as a reliable and consistent goalscorer who can thrive against prominent senior teams.

Bhat will look to torment the Mohammedan SC players with his clever off-the-ball running and link-up play style. He will look to dart into the open spaces inside the final third and get at the end of more moves to finish off chances efficiently and help his side get a big win.

Adison Singh (Mohammedan Sporting)

Thokchom Adison Singh has been a breath of fresh air for Mohammedan Sporting at the Durand Cup and was a major standout for them in the opener against Diamond Harbour. The 20-year-old forward showcased impressive movement in the final third to trouble defenders and has the tenacity to fight for chances inside the opposition half.

Adison scored a nice goal against Diamond Harbour and will be determined to continue his impressive form against a much more formidable opposition. Adison will look to use his pace and unpredictable movement to disrupt the Mohun Bagan backline and help his side take the fight to them. However, Singh will need to be at his lethal best to finish off any chances that come his way to help his side get anything from this game.

Did you know?

• Mohun Bagan have more Durand Cup titles (17) than any other team in Indian football.
• Mohammedan Sporting were the first Indian club to win the Durand Cup title in 1940.
• The last time Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan SC met in a Durand Cup final was in 1980, when the Mariners succeeded with a 1-0 win.

Telecast Details

The Durand Cup group game between Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting will take place on Thursday, 31 July 2025 at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.

It will kick off at 19:00 PM IST. The game will be shown on the Sony TEN Sports network and be available to stream on SonyLIV.

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.