I-League enters business end as title race heats up

The I-League has entered its home stretch. And who will take home the crown is, of course, the big question.

East Bengal will be desperate to put behind the shocking loss to Gokulam Kerala FC on Saturday.

The I-League has entered its home stretch. And who will take home the crown is, of course, the big question.

The multiple choices are (A) Neroca FC; (B) Minerva Punjab FC; (C) East Bengal. If you insist on having another choice, then it could be (D) Mohun Bagan.

Bagan, though, needs a few miracles. Not merely does it need to win all its four remaining games, but its rivals have to lose all theirs and to top it all off, East Bengal and Neroca need to play out a draw on February 27.

Neroca is sitting at the top of the table with 31 points, with two games left. Minerva is on 29 but it has four matches in hand.

East Bengal, which has three matches left, has 26 points. So of the three top teams, Minerva could afford to relax a bit more than the other two. Not just has it got more matches, but only one of them is away – against Chennai City FC.

Neroca's home game is against Bagan and a tough away rival in East Bengal. As for East Bengal, it should be desperate to put behind the shocking loss to Gokulam Kerala FC on Saturday. Besides  Neroca, it has another formidable away opponent in the final leg, Shillong Lajong. It is expected to win against Chennai at home, though.