How Mohun Bagan SG can line up for the crucial 2025-26 ISL Kolkata derby against East Bengal FC

The Kolkata Derby can potentially decide the winners of ISL 2025-26

Mohun Bagan SG are aiming to take one step closer to securing the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) title when they face off against rivals East Bengal FC in a highly anticipated Kolkata derby on Sunday (17 May 2026). Heading into this clash at the back of a two-game winless run, the Mariners desperately need a win to take control of the title race and keep in route to winning their third consecutive league championship.

Sergio Lobera is under pressure to get his tactics spot on to ensure that Mohun Bagan SG can dominate their rivals at the Salt Lake Stadium. He does have the majority of his squad at his disposal for this big game, but the Spaniard needs to be smart with his selection and set-up to ensure that Mohun Bagan SG can get a big win.

With Mohun Bagan SG needing their top players to produce their best performances in this big game, they’ll need tweak their style to Lobera’s set-up and take the fight to the Torchbearers.

Here, we look at how the Mariners can potentially line-up for this big Kolkata derby which can decide who gets their hands on the ISL 2025-26 title.

Goalkeeper: Vishal Kaith

No surprise on this front. Kaith remains among the safest pair of hands in the ISL and has kept five clean sheets in the 2025-26 season, the joint-most for any goalkeeper.

Kaith has boasted the highest save percentage (78.8%) and has come up with crucial saves time and again for the Mariners. He’ll need to be at his sharpest in goal in the derby, be smart with his game-reading and positioning to make important saves to frustrate the Red & Gold Brigade’s players.

Right-Back: Abhishek Singh

Abhishek Singh has proven to be a breath of fresh air in the Mohun Bagan SG backline, embracing his role as their new right-back pretty smoothly. He has been a pocket of positive energy on the right-wing for the Mariners, tirelessly making runs up and down the pitch to help his side.

Singh has been defensively pretty solid as well with his ability to win duels against tricky wingers, and he’ll need to be at his strongest against East Bengal. The full-back must be proactive to win back the ball and neutralize the Red & Gold Brigade’s threat through that wing to help his side hold them back effectively.

Centre-Back: Tom Aldred

Tom Aldred continues to be a commanding figure in the Mohun Bagan SG backline in his second campaign, and he’s churned out some solid performances for them as well.

The Scottish centre-back will need to use his leadership skills to hold together a compact, sturdy defensive shape in the derby. He must use his game-reading skills to make crucial clearances and challenges to thwart East Bengal’s attacks, as well as being smart with his forward passes to help with quick build-up play on the attack.

Centre-Back: Alberto Rodriguez

Alberto Rodriguez has formed a formidable partnership with Tom Aldred and knowing the feistiness expected in the derby, the bullish Spanish centre-back should start in this one. Rodriguez will need to be highly agile in the defensive end, intimidating the opposition players with his crunching challenges and cutting out their attacking moves smartly.

He’ll also be eager to help with the build-up play with his efficient forward passing, as well as be a threat on set-pieces to add another dimension to Mohun Bagan’s style.

Left-Back: Subhasish Bose

The Mohun Bagan SG skipper has a difficult task ahead of him in the derby because of how unpredictable the East Bengal attack has been this season. Bose needs to be at his sturdiest for this clash, using his anticipation skills to make crucial challenges to dispossess opposition players and ruining their attacking moves.

He needs to be energetic on the left-wing to motivate his teammates and also make vital contributions to cut down East Bengal’s supply chain into their frontline.

Centre-Midfield: Lalengmawia Ralte

Lalengmawia Ralte has been a pivotal part of Sergio Lobera’s system at Mohun Bagan SG, being responsible for helping them dominate possession and controlling matches. He needs to be at his efficient best in the upcoming Kolkata derby, controlling the midfield battle to help his side be on top of their rivals.

Ralte will need to be smart with his high pressing to regain possession in crucial areas, and he’ll also be required to be effective with his forward passing to help build-up unpredictable attacking moves to take the opponents by surprise.

Centre-Midfield: Anirudh Thapa

Anirudh Thapa has formed a pretty good partnership with Apuia in the Mohun Bagan SG midfield, and he’s personally been a pocket of positive energy for the Mariners as well. Thapa will look to use his experience to trifle the East Bengal midfielders, not allowing them any free space to play in the midfield.

While he’ll be urged to fulfil defensive responsibilities and helping his backline, Thapa will also need to be positive with his distribution and quick-thinking to help the Mariners create fast-paced moves to trouble their rivals.

Right-Wing: Liston Colaco

In what has been a topsy-turvy campaign for Liston, this is an ideal platform for him to regain the Mohun Bagan SG fans’ love. Colaco will look to torment the East Bengal defenders with his tricky dribbling and forward runs, but he definitely needs to improve his decision-making.

The India international needs to be smarter with his final third passes to create big chances, and also bring more accuracy with his shooting to help Mohun Bagan SG terrorize the East Bengal backline.

Attacking Midfield: Sahal Abdul Samad

After a slow start to the campaign for him, Sahal Abdul Samad appears to have become an important midfield asset for Lobera in recent games. He brings that element of surprise with his clever final passes and scoring ability, which the midfielder must maximize in the derby.

Sahal will be urged to press the opposition players to regain possession, but he’ll mostly be urged to be effective in the final third. He’ll need to be more accurate with his defence-splitting passes to create chances, as well as take a few risks at getting at the end of chances and finish them off efficiently.

Left-Wing: Robson Robinho

Robson Robinho might’ve failed to make the kind of impact expected from him at Mohun Bagan SG, but he has the chance to make amends in the Kolkata derby. The Brazilian winger, who has three goals this season, will need to be at his unpredictable best in the East Bengal clash.

He’ll need to be clever with his movement, but more importantly deliver better passes into the box for his teammates. Robson will also look to get at the end of chances and finish off moves clinically to raise his side’s chances of getting a big derby win.

Centre-Forward: Jamie Maclaren

Jamie Maclaren has, to his credit, maintained impressive form with nine goals in the 2025-26 ISL for Mohun Bagan SG. However, games like the Kolkata derby will prove whether he still has that championship-winning mentality to himself.

Maclaren, of course, scored in both derbies against East Bengal in the 2024-25 ISL season and looks to continue tormenting them. He’ll need to be smart with his positioning and off-the-ball movement, but the Australian ace has to be at his ruthless best at finishing off whatever chances he gets to give the Mariners an edge in the derby.

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