Durand Cup 2024: Mohun Bagan face East Bengal in Asia’s oldest football competition

The age-old clash of the Indian football titans is set to be renewed once again in the Durand Cup derby.

India’s biggest football rivalry returns to the big screen once again this Sunday, as arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant face off against East Bengal FC in the eternal Kolkata Derby!

The centrepiece of the group stage fixtures in this season’s Durand Cup, the highly anticipated match will be played at the legendary Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, with fans across the nation being able to watch the rivalry live on Sony LIV.

Alongside bragging rights up for grabs for the winner, the result of the match will also dictate which team tops the group ahead of the competition’s knockout stage. As the city gets ready to mark its lines in the sand, India’s first Kolkata Derby of the 2024-25 season will take on an additional level of significance with the matchup being a repeat of the 2023 Durand Cup final, which saw Mohun Bagan Super Giants win their 17th Durand Cup title by defeating East Bengal FC at the very same venue.

A must-win game for both teams, the result will determine which team tops the group and which team finishes second, leaving the winner with direct entry into the next round, while the loser faces possible elimination from the competition.

Recent History in The Durand Cup

Passionately nicknamed the Mariners (Mohun Bagan Super Giant) and the Red and Gold Brigade (East Bengal FC), both clubs are the two most successful teams in this tournament, with the Kolkata giants having won the title a record 33 times between the two of them.

The Mariners, who have recently experienced significant success, will enter the derby with Head Coach Jose Molina as the clear favorite, supported by a squad featuring top talent from India and abroad. However, with the experienced Carles Cuadrat knowing that derby games are rarely won on paper, the Red and Gold Brigade will rely on their recent transfer window signings to inspire them on the field.

Having defeated the Mariners in the tournament’s group stage last year, the Red and Gold Brigade remains optimistic about their chances of delivering another historic performance in the Durand Cup. With both teams aiming to maintain their 100% record in the competition, the season’s first El Clasico will be a high-stakes encounter for both sides.

Indian Football’s Asian Representatives

Once again on the rise, West Bengal’s football quotient continues to grow as two of its biggest football clubs awaken from their long slumber.

Having earned automatic qualification into the continental stage of club football competition based on their performances in domestic play, Mohun Bagan Super Giants will join East Bengal, who have also qualified for the preliminary play-offs due to their respective achievements.

With both teams representing India on the continental stage this season, Indian football enthusiasts will get a sneak peek into the nation’s representation at an Asian level this Sunday, as the best India has to offer goes head-to-head in Asia’s oldest football tournament, streaming live on the Sony Liv app and website.

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