East Bengal face arch rivals Mohun Bagan in thrilling Kolkata Derby in IFA Shield 2025 Finals

Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have been in red-hot form in the IFA Shield 2025.

The 2025 IFA Shield is set for a blockbuster end as the Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fight for the title in what is set to be a thrilling final at the Salt Lake Stadium (Kolkata) on Saturday (18 October, 2025).

With both sides coming into the game flying high on momentum, something has got to give as the two rivals fight to earn bragging rights and add another reputed trophy to their cabinet.

The Stakes

East Bengal

Oscar Bruzon has seen his East Bengal side have a thrilling start to the 2025-26 season, showing signs of major improvement from the previous campaign.

East Bengal have been exciting to watch in the IFA Shield, scoring six goals and not conceding any goals so far. However, the Red & Gold Brigade are yet to win any piece of silverware under the Spanish gaffer and that is why he’ll be determined for them to win this upcoming derby.

Bruzon will urge his side to not only maintain a strong defensive shape, but also be brave on the transitions and show heightened energy levels to trouble the Mariners.

Another win in the Kolkata Derby and winning the IFA Shield could provide a huge boost to the East Bengal camp before the Super Cup, but a loss would make some question their trophy-winning capabilities.

Mohun Bagan

Despite all their controversy over the AFC Challenge League Two disqualification, Mohun Bagan players have not allowed that to impact their performances. The Mariners have produced some stunning attacking football in the IFA Shield, winning both their matches so far and scoring seven goals. Jose Molina is craving for more titles to his name and will be eager for his side to get revenge over East Bengal for their Kolkata Derby loss in the 2025 Durand Cup.

He will urge his Mohun Bagan players to be proactive and decisive with their speedy attacking movements to trouble the East Bengal players. A win over their rivals to win a trophy will be particularly sweet for Molina & co, giving them some joy during some challenging times. However, a second straight derby loss could heighten the fan agitation and cause the players to be low on morale heading into the Super Cup.

Team News

East Bengal should have a fully fit squad available for them in this game, with Naorem Mahesh Singh and Anwar Ali also likely to feature after returning from India duty.

Jose Molina will be sweating on the fitness of Manvir Singh, who has missed the last few games through injury. Apart from that, he has a fully available squad.

Head-to-Head

Matches played – 405

East Bengal wins – 144

Mohun Bagan wins – 143

Draws – 118

Predicted Lineups

East Bengal

Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Mohamad Rakip, Kevin Sibille, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Souvik Chakrabarti, Miguel Ferreira, Saul Crespo, PV Vishnu, Bipin Singh, Hamid Ahadad

Mohun Bagan

Vishal Kaith (GK), Asish Rai, Tom Aldred, Alberto Rodriguez, Subhasish Bose, Lalengmawia Ralte, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco, Jason Cummings, Jamie Maclaren

Key Players to Watch

Miguel Ferreira (East Bengal)

Miguel Ferreira has been a breath of fresh air for the East Bengal midfield since joining the club in the summer. The Brazilian midfielder’s high energy levels and driving nature has helped East Bengal take the fight to strong opponents. Miguel was particularly impressive against Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup derby, making surging forward runs on the transitions and playing a crucial role for one of Dimitrios Diamantakos’ goals.

Ferreira excels at winning the ball back in key areas and has that spirited nature to drive his team forward into the danger areas. He’ll look to use his proactiveness to trouble the Mohun Bagan midfielders and help create more chances for his side, especially with his set-piece threat. Miguel will also look to get into more scoring chances to enhance his side’s ruthlessness and guide them to another derby victory.

Jamie Maclaren (Mohun Bagan)

Jamie Maclaren is the current leader in the goal-scorers charts in the IFA Shield after his impressive brace in the 5-1 thrashing of Gokulam Kerala. Maclaren was able to score a particularly brilliant volley from outside the box against Gokulam and seems to have a lot of momentum behind him. The Australian forward has a pretty solid record against East Bengal, scoring against them in both the Indian Super League (ISL) derbies last season.

He will look to make use of his smart movement to torment the Red & Gold Brigade’s defenders and disrupt their defensive shape. While he will look to be smart with his link-up play to create opportunities for others, Maclaren will mostly be focused on getting into the right spaces and ruthlessly finishing off chances. He will aim to put away chances efficiently to get revenge for Mohun Bagan and help them lift another trophy.

Did you know?

• This will be the first time since 2003 that Mohun Bagan and East Bengal’s senior teams meet in an IFA Shield final.
• East Bengal have won the IFA Shield title 29 times, the most for any team in the competition’s history.
• Mohun Bagan have scored seven goals in the 2025 IFA Shield so far, the most for any team so far.

Telecast Details

The IFA Shield final between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be held at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Saturday, 18 October 2025. The match will kick off at 6 PM IST. It will be broadcast on the SSEN App and on their website.

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