How can Mohun Bagan SG win ISL 2025-26 title after sharing spoils in Kolkata Derby?

Mohun Bagan SG pulled off a late draw against East Bengal.

The Indian Super League (ISL) is inching towards its business end. The most-awaited Kolkata derby for the first time in ISL history was potentially a title-defining clash as both Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal were tied on 22 points after 11 games.

It was a must-win game for the Mariners, as anything other than a win would have made their path to the ISL shield even more difficult. East Bengal have scored the maximum goals in this season, netting 28 goals in 12 games, clocking an average of over 2 goals per game.

The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan was filled with vociferous fans from both teams, rallying behind their team in what could have been a title-winning game for them. East Bengal had too many so close yet so far moments to break the deadlock in the Kolkata derby.

Even the Mariners had their fair share of chances in the game, but the score was still level until the first 45 minutes. It took a moment of brilliance from Edmund Lalrindika to make it 1-0 with just six minutes of regulation time, and that goal could have been a historic one for the Torchbearers.

The ISL title was slipping away from Mohun Bagan SG, but the man of the moment, Jason Cummings, stepped up when it mattered the most and scored the equaliser in the 89th minute. Both teams kept pushing for the winner but there was nothing much to separate the two sides as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

In this article, we find out how Mohun Bagan SG can still win the ISL title even after a draw against East Bengal in the Kolkata derby.

What can Mohun Bagan SG do now?

After the draw against East Bengal, Mohun Bagan SG’s fate is no longer in their own hands and they will have to win the next game against Sporting Delhi anyhow and hope that Inter Kashi outfit pulls out a miracle against East Bengal to hold them to a draw at least, just like they did against the Mariners.

In that case, Mohun Bagan SG will finish with 26 points, whereas East Bengal will finish the league with 23 points in case of a defeat, and 24 points in case of a draw, leaving Mohun Bagan SG atop.

Both teams will face relatively easier opponents, and the probability of both teams dropping points are less. But even if Mohun Bagan SG play out a draw against the Capital outfit in VYBK, they will still have a chance to win the ISL Shield with 24 points.

In that case, they will hope Inter Kashi thrashes East Bengal and that keeps East Bengal with 23 points. But Mohun Bagan SG will also hope that the game between Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC ends in a draw, leaving both teams with 23 points.

This is the reason why Oscar Bruzon will still be happy after taking a point in the Kolkata derby. East Bengal are +5 goals ahead of Mohun Bagan SG and since the derby ended in a draw, head-to-head will be replaced by goal difference, and the Torchbearers are way ahead.

If both teams win, they will finish at 26 points. Mohun Bagan SG, in that case, will need to win by 6-0 and hope East Bengal wins by a narrow margin of 1-0. Though it looks unreal, but mathematically, the Mariners can still win the ISL Shield.

Current scenario as three teams are on equal points

Currently, with top 3 teams on equal points, the head-to-head mini table between East Bengal FC, Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan SG stands very balanced after all three sides played out draws against one another.

With each team earning two points from their direct encounters and all three maintaining a goal difference of zero. As a result, the battle now shifts to goals scored within these head-to-head matches.

At this stage, East Bengal hold the advantage at the top of the mini-table after scoring four goals in their two encounters. Bengaluru FC follow closely with three goals, while Mohun Bagan SG sit behind with just one goal scored.

If the league table ultimately sees these three clubs finish level on points, the current head-to-head standings would place East Bengal ahead in the title race, showing just how crucial every goal has become in this dramatic end to the season.

But since as of now, both Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC along with few more teams have their last game left this seems unlikely with Bengaluru already playing out all of their games.

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