East Bengal look to kick off Super Cup with win over Dempo SC in opener

East Bengal have won the 2024 edition of Super Cup.

East Bengal look to kick off their 2025 Super Cup campaign in a strong fashion when they face off against old rivals, Dempo, in their opening match of the tournament on Saturday (25 October, 2025).

The Red & Gold Brigade look to bounce back from their recent loss in the IFA Shield final strongly, but have to be wary of an unpredictable Goan side determined to get a win on home soil.

The Stakes

East Bengal

East Bengal have shown signs of progression under the guidance of Oscar Bruzon, but they have struggled to take that major step upwards towards real success.

The IFA Shield final loss was a setback for them, but the Red & Gold Brigade can redeem themselves by performing to their best in the Super Cup. Considering how winning the tournament guarantees a place in a continental tournament, East Bengal will be determined to give their best showing in this.

They aim to start the tournament with a dominant performance, as Bruzon will urge his players to be quick and decisive with their attacking movement to torment Dempo and also maintain a sturdy defensive shape. A strong win will automatically elevate the self-belief and confident levels in the players, but a draw or loss would get the alarm bells ringing again.

Dempo SC

Dempo SC had a relatively decent 2024-25 season in the I-League, in which they managed a sixth place finish after returning to the division.

The Goan side have a rich history behind them and have also faced off against East Bengal in some notable matches in the past. They are now going to look to rekindle their rivalry with the Kolkata side and produce a stunning result against them.

Fortunately for the Dempo players, they have a slight home advantage on their side, which they aim to use to produce a gritty and clinical effort against the Red & Gold Brigade.

A win over East Bengal can be a perfect start to the Super Cup for Dempo and help them prove their ability to still defeat top teams. However, a crushing loss can be an early setback to their ambitions of making it out of the group.

Team News

Oscar Bruzon should have a fully fit squad available for the match against Dempo SC after avoiding injuries in the last game.

Dempo SC are also going to have a fully fit squad at their disposal for this clash. They are unlikely to be able to field any foreign players in the Super Cup.

Head-to-Head Record

Matches played: 64

East Bengal wins: 31

Dempo wins: 15

Draws: 18

Predicted Lineups

East Bengal (4-2-3-1)

Debjit Majumder (GK), Mohamed Rakip, Martand Rana, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Mohammed Rashid, Saul Crespo, Miguel Ferreira, Naorem Mahesh Singh, PV Vishnu, Hamid Ahadad

Dempo (4-2-3-1)

Mohammad (GK), Nestor, Beckham, Ashton, Arnold, Salged, Rahul, Rane, Shameek, Steins, Shwavel

Key Player to Watch

Hamid Ahadad (East Bengal)

Hamid Ahadad was one of East Bengal’s best players in the IFA Shield competition, scoring two goals in the three matches for them. He also showcased his striker’s instincts with a clinical goal against Mohun Bagan in the final, but wasn’t able to see his side capitalise on that. Hamid is now recharged and determined to maintain his goal-scoring form for East Bengal in the Super Cup.

The Moroccan forward will look to torment the defenders of Dempo with his smart off-the-ball movement and in getting into the right positions consistently. He looks to clinically finish off chances that he gets in the final third to make a sprint for the Super Cup golden boot and inspire his side to a big win.

Did you know?

• East Bengal defeated Dempo by a 3-1 margin in their last two matches.
• Dempo SC will be playing in the AIFF Super Cup for the very first time.
• East Bengal were eliminated from the previous Super Cup tournament in the Round of 16.

Telecast Details

The Super Cup match between East Bengal and Dempo SC will take place at the GMC Athletic Stadium, Bambolim on Saturday, 25 October 2025.

The match will kick off at 4:30 PM IST. It will be live-streamed on the Indian Football Team/ AIFF YouTube Channel.

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