Five talking points from East Bengal FC's Kolkata Derby loss against Mohun Bagan in Durand Cup 2026
East Bengal lost 1-0 in a closely-fought Kolkata Derby against Mohun Bagan SG.
The Durand Cup 2026 started in thrilling fashion when old rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan faced each other in the opening match of the 135th edition of the tournament at the VYBK Stadium (Kolkata) on Saturday, 25 July (2026).
A match entrenched deep in the fabric of Indian football, Kolkata Derby was the best way to kick off the new season in Indian Football.
East Bengal started off their new campaign under their new head coach, Antonio Lopez Habas with a 1-0 defeat against their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in a closely-fought Kolkata derby of the Durand Cup 2026 season opener.
For East Bengal, this is not the end of the road, as the top team from each group will advance along with the two best runners-up.
The strike from Sahal in the 52nd minute was enough to ensure Mohun Bagan picked the three points and started its Durand Cup campaign with a win. It was not the prettiest performance from either side, but both coaches will be encouraged by the intensity shown by their players.
There were quite a few positives from the game for Habas and his Red and Gold Brigade, in this article we will discuss on those five talking points from the match.
5. Defensive Resilience from Anwar Ali-Sandip Mandi duo despite the defeat
Anwar Ali was as usual the leading force in the backline for the Red and Gold Brigade in the thrilling Kolkata Derby clash against Mohun Bagan SG. He was quite impressive and was in good touch during the transitions. He was well supported by his new partner, Sandip Mandi as well. Sandip Mandi, who hails from West Bengal, has been added to the Moshal Brigade this season from Inter Kashi FC. He is familiar with the gameplan of Habas and have adjusted quite well with his new partner in the defence line, Anwar Ali.
Both of the were quite impressive in the first half, but after conceding the goal in the second half they looked quite clumsy. But again in the last half of the game they played well in patches. With Nacho Monsalve joining this defence line, it will look quite lethal and compact for sure. But Habas and his boys needs to do a lot of work with their defensive approach against the counter attack strategy of the opponent.
4. New signings of Rohit Danu and Rohit Kumar still adapting
Some of the new signings of East Bengal like Rohit Kumar and Rohit Danu looked good in patches and showed glimpses of quality but lacked chemistry with their teammates like Bipin, Edmund, Jeakson and others. They still need more time to gel up with the new system, but considering the Kolkata derby as their first match in the new outfit, they showed a lot of composure. It is very early to judge this team with only one defeat under their belt, as Antonio Lopez Habas know how to make a comeback.
3. Lack of Creativity in the Midfield proved costly for the Moshal Brigade
There was a clear lack of creativity between the midfield and the attacking line of the Torchbearers, as a result of which they couldn’t break the strong Indian defence line of the Mariners. Bipin Singh and Edmund Lalrindika showed some glimpse of quality but couldn’t rise to the occasion. David Lalhlansanga was not in shape at all, but after the inclusion of PV Vishnu and Jesin TK, East Bengal looked in great shape in the final third.
But they were unable to produce consistent chances in the final third. With time to go, East Bengal should use the quality of Jesin TK and PV Vishnu more this season to get the best out of their Indian attacking force. East Bengal’s new signing Dani Ramirez hit the post in the dying minutes, while Mohammed Rashid was also denied by a superb save from Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.
2. Missed goal-scoring opportunities in transition
East Bengal think tank needs to think beyond Jay Gupta, he was not in good shape and was clearly lacking composure. Considering the first match of the season he was not completely match-fit. East Bengal’s strategy of playing Jay Gupta as a left-back may not work this season, as he is very slow in transition and because of which East Bengal were unable to create any goal-scoring opportunities in transition. They were lacking some great play-making in the midfield which would have reduce their missed opportunities in the final third.
East Bengal may try Lalchungnunga in the left back position, and after Boris Singh comes back from injury he will be the best option in the right-back position. With the availability of Danish Farooq, with the likes of PV Vishnu and Jeakson Singh in the upcoming days East Bengal midfield will look unstoppable.
1. Lack of proper No.9 cause a concern for Mohun Bagan
The all-Indian attacking force of East Bengal struggled to convert the half chances into proper goals in the final third. They were also unable to continue their hold up play, which showed the absence of a proper No.9 in the front line, who will be clinical with his finishing skills.
The Torchbearers lacked a proper focal point in the attack line in the Kolkata Derby against the Mariners. Edmund, Danu, David, looked good in patches but couldn’t rise upto the occasion. Jesin TK and PV Vishnu showed some glimpse of hope in the dying moments of the game but it was not enough for East Bengal to edge past their rivals.
With Effiong joining this squad in the later half of the season, there is a scope for East Bengal making a comeback and addressing this issue.
The Durand Cup is still going to be a pre-season phase of the 2026-27 season for the Torchbearers, who are yet to reach their best under their new head coach. East Bengal appeared tactically disciplined despite the loss. Even if the attacking style still needs improvement, Antonio Habas’ influence was evident in the team’s compact form and defensive organization.
When is East Bengal’s next match in Durand Cup 2026?
East Bengal will next face CISF Protectors on July 31, while Mohun Bagan will take on South United on August 4.
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Dwaipayan Mandal holds dual degrees in Sports Management and Digital Marketing from IISWBM, Kolkata. A passionate football enthusiast, he follows the game across the globe, with East Bengal holding a special place in his heart. Beyond football, he enjoys cricket, golf, and tennis. With a keen interest in sports journalism and digital storytelling, Dwaipayan is committed to creating insightful content that connects with fans.