Played
February 4, 2012 2:00 PM IST
 

East Bengal - Mohun Bagan Preview : Two arch rivals meet again as they resume their quest for the I-League title

With both teams having a realistic chance to challenge Dempo for the title, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan meet in yet another highly anticipated Kolkata Derby...

By Debjit Lahiri

More On :  East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan
Federation Cup Final - East bengal vs Mohun bagan (Mangopeel)

PROBABLE LINEUPS


MOHUN BAGAN

Sangram
Surkumar, Debnath, Anwar, Nabi
Rakesh
Jewel,Barreto,Hudson
Odafa,Chhteri
EAST BENGAL
 
Gurpreet
Saumik, Gurwinder, Okpara, Harmanjot
Vashum, Mehtab,Paite, Sanju
Penn
Tolgay


The two arch rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan lock horns once again this Saturday as they fight it out to cut down the lead at the top of the table. The Red and Gold Brigade had lost the earlier fixture in the season by a solitary goal, following a more than a controversial penalty decision and they will be looking to avenge that defeat.

Mohun Bagan are likely to line up with Okolie Odafa and fit again Sunil Chhetri upfront with Jose Ramirez Barreto right behind them in the midfield. Jewel Raja and Hudson Lima should be completing the centre midfield while Rakesh Masih is expected to occupy a defensive role.

Surkumar Singh, Kingshuk Debnath, Anwar Ali and Syed Rahim Nabi should make the back four with Sangram Mukherjee on goal.

East Bengal's star man Tolgay Ozbey was suspended for the last derby and this time one may expect him to make a significant impact. Penn Orji is likely to support him upfront with the likes Vashum, Mehtab Hussain and Sanju Pradhan filling in the midfield. Khan Thang Paite should get the nod ahead of Sushant Matthew.

Saumik Dey, Gurwinder Singh, Uga Okpara and Harmanjot Khabra will form the usual backline with Gurpreet Singh retaining his postion at goal, despite the howler in the last match.



  DID YOU KNOW?

  • Mohun Bagan are currently on 33 points while East Bengal are just a point above them on 34.
  • East Bengal's coach Trevor James Morgan was unbeaten in derby encounters, having won 4 of his 5 derbies, until the same fixture earlier this season.
  • Bhaichung Bhutia holds the record of scoring the most number of goals in derbies in the I-League and NFL with 6. In the current squad, Mohun Bagan's Rahim Nabi with 4 is the top scorer.
  • The two teams have met a massive 300 times with East Bengal having a noticeable edge with 112 derby wins to Mohun Bagan's 85.
  • In the I-League/NFL encounters too, East Bengal have performed better than their rivals having won 12 to Bagan's 10 from 29 encounters.
  • The highest victory margin recorded in derby matches was also by East Bengal when they thrashed Mohun Bagan 5-0 in the 1975 IFA Shield Final. Mohun Bagan downed East Bengal 5-3 under Karim Bencherifa a couple of seasons back.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • East Bengal 2-0 Mohun Bagan
    16.52 %
  • East Bengal 0-2 Mohun Bagan
    13.91 %
  • East Bengal 1-2 Mohun Bagan
    11.3 %
Head to Head
India - I-League ‎(IND1)‎ 04-Feb-2012 East Bengal 1 - Mohun Bagan 1
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India - I-League ‎(IND1)‎ 20-Nov-2011 Mohun Bagan 1 - East Bengal 0
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India - I-League ‎(IND1)‎ 09-Apr-2011 East Bengal 2 - Mohun Bagan 1
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India - I-League ‎(IND1)‎ 06-Feb-2011 Mohun Bagan 1 - East Bengal 1
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Federation Cup ‎(INDF)‎ 02-Oct-2010 East Bengal 1 - Mohun Bagan 0
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Last Five Matches
East Bengal
09-May-2012East Bengal 1 - Kazma 2AC
05-May-2012Air India 0 - East Bengal 1IND1
30-Apr-2012East Bengal 3 - Sporting Clube de Goa 0IND1
25-Apr-2012Al Orouba 4 - East Bengal 1AC
20-Apr-2012Dempo Sports Club 0 - East Bengal 0IND1
Mohun Bagan
06-May-2012Mohun Bagan 2 - Pune FC 0IND1
14-Apr-2012Salgaocar SC 1 - Mohun Bagan 1IND1
10-Apr-2012Mohun Bagan 6 - Shillong Lajong FC 1IND1
06-Apr-2012Mohun Bagan 0 - HAL Bangalore 0IND1
01-Apr-2012Mohun Bagan 2 - Dempo Sports Club 2IND1
Team News
Available Squads
30Gurpreet Singh SandhuGoalkeeper
17Robert LalthlamuanaDefender
24Gurwinder SinghDefender
4Uga OkparaDefender
7Harmanjot KhabraDefender
12Reisangmi VashumMidfielder
14Mehtab HussainMidfielder
18Penn Ikechukwu OrjiMidfielder
11KhanThang PaiteMidfielder
23Robin SinghStriker
20Tolgay OzbeyStriker
4Raju GaikwadDefender
22Sanju PradhanMidfielder
29Saumik DeyDefender
21Sangram MukherjeeGoalkeeper
13Surkumar SinghDefender
5Anwar AliDefender
4Kingkshuk DebnathDefender
19Syed NabiDefender
20Rakesh MasihDefender
2Daniell ZelenyDefender
27Hudson SilvaMidfielder
23Jewel RajaMidfielder
11Sunil ChhetriStriker
9Odafa Onyeka OkolieStriker
6Dhanrajan RDefender
10Jose BarretoStriker
12Ashim BiswasStriker
Probable Lineups
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu 30
Robert Lalthlamuana 17
Gurwinder Singh 24
Uga Okpara 4
Harmanjot Khabra 7
Reisangmi Vashum 12
Mehtab Hussain 14
Penn Ikechukwu Orji 18
KhanThang Paite 11
Robin Singh 23
Tolgay Ozbey 20
Sangram Mukherjee 21
Surkumar Singh 13
Anwar Ali 5
Kingkshuk Debnath 4
Syed Nabi 19
Rakesh Masih 20
Daniell Zeleny 2
Hudson Silva 27
Jewel Raja 23
Sunil Chhetri 11
Odafa Onyeka Okolie 9
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Martins Ranti Soleye Martins Ranti Soleye
Striker
Dempo SC 		32 5
Odafa Onyeka Okolie Odafa Onyeka Okolie
Striker
Mohun Bagan 		26 5
Tolgay Ozbey Tolgay Ozbey
Striker
East Bengal 		18 1
James Moga James Moga
Striker
SC Goa 		16 0
Mandjou Keita Mandjou Keita
Striker
Pune FC 		15 3