Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal will face off in the ISL 2023-24 season’s first Kolkata derby at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
The Red and Gold come into the match with high spirits after winning the Kalinga Super Cup - its first national title in 12 years and also beat the Mariners 3-1 on their road to lifting the title in Bhubaneswar.
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While Mohun Bagan has had the last laugh in most of the Kolkata derbies over the past few years, this current East Bengal side looks rejuvenated under the tutelage of Carles Cuadrat.
Ahead of the first derby of the 2023-24 ISL season, here is what happened in the last five matches between Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal
Mohun Bagan Super Giant 1-3 East Bengal; January 2023 - Kalinga Super Cup
East Bengal won its second Kolkata derby of the season after beating Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3-1 in a Kalinga Super Cup Group A fixture. The win ensured the Red and Gold’s passage to the Super Cup semifinal, where it beat Jamshedpur FC and eventually Odisha FC in the summit clash to win the title.
Mohun Bagan took a 1-0 lead from a Dimitrios Petratos corner as Hector Yuste flicked the ball inside the net at the near post. But the lead was short-lived as Cleiton Silva equalised for Carles Cuadrat’s men with a lovely finish from the edge of the Mariners penalty area.
East Bengal FC captain Cleiton celebrates after scoring a goal against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Kalinga Super Cup 2024 matches at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. | Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT/The Hindu
The Mariners had a chance to take the lead late in the first-half after a handball decision went against Hijazi Maher inside the box. Petratos stood over the ball for the spot-kick. While his first penalty was cancelled due to encroachment, the Australian failed to convert from his second attempt as the ball hit the crossbar.
East Bengal took the lead in the second half courtesy of a goal by Nandhakumar Sekar. Ravi Rana lost the ball to Borja Herrera, with the latter going for goal with a curler. The ball hit the post and came back into play, with Nandhakumar tapping in the rebound from close distance.
With the balance heavily tipping in the Red and Gold’s favour, Cleiton Silva buried the match after grabbing his brace in the 80th minute. The Mohin Bagan backline could not deal with a cross that came inside the box, with Hijazi heading the ball towards goal. While Arsh Anwar did initially hold on to the ball, he eventually spilled it, and Cleiton was there to punish the error by blasting the ball inside the net from a close distance.
East Bengal 0 - 1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant; September 2023 - Durand Cup Final
Dimitri Petratos’ solo strike proved the difference as 10-man Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) prevailed over arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the final of the 132nd Durand Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Mohun Bagan went down to ten following the dismissal of Anirudh Thapa in the 62nd minute but pushed through the game before sealing the deal in the 71st minute.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant players celebrate after winning the Durand Cup Final against East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. | Photo Credit: PTI
East Bengal had a great chance to take the lead in the 70th minute but MBSG goalkeeper Vishal Kaith, made a fine save to deny the effort of Brazilian Cleiton Silva.
Petratos dribbled past two defenders and scored past Prabhsukhan Gill immediately after to seal the result and secure the club’s 17th title.
East Bengal 1 - 0 Mohun Bagan SG; August 2023 - Durand Cup
Nandhakumar Sekar produced a spectacular finish to help Emami East Bengal end its losing streak against its arch-rival Mohun Bagan Super Giant, at the Salt Lake Stadium.
The Chennai-born winger’s contribution saw East Bengal down the Indian Super League (ISL) champion MBSG by a solitary goal in the group-A match of the Durand Cup.
Nandhakumar Sekar celebrates after scoring the winner in the match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in the 2023 Durand Cup. | Photo Credit: Durand Cup Media
Despite fielding a newly strung combination with 15 new signings, EBFC’s execution kept the star-studded MBSG on a tight leash. The Mariners drew big arrears in making effective transitions while the boys in Red-and-gold showed remarkable efficiency.
East Bengal made many more raids in the Bagan box and succeeded in opening effectively in the 60th-minute counter-attack that saw Nandhakumar producing the all-important goal.
East Bengal 0 - 2 Mohun Bagan SG; February 2023 - ISL
Mohun Bagan SG (earlier ATK Mohun Bagan) beat East Bengal 2-0 on the back of goals by Slavko Damjanovic and Dimitri Petratos in the Indian Super League on 25 February 2023.
Dimitri Petratos of ATK Mohun Bagan takes a shot at the goal during the Indian Super League game between East Bengal FC and ATK Mohun Bagan at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata. | Photo Credit: Focus Sports
The opening half was insipid but the contest came alive after the change of ends when the teams started making forays with more purpose. After a spell of intense attacks, Mohun Bagan SG found the breakthrough in the 68th minute when Manvir Singh flicked a Petratos corner to the tall Damjanovic who found the target off the second attempt.
The win was sealed by Petratos in the 90th minute who swooped in on the rebound after substitute Kiyan Nassiri’s attempt was blocked by East Bengal goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh.
Mohun Bagan SG 2 - 0 East Bengal; October 2023 - ISL
Mohun Bagan (earlier ATK Mohun Bagan) continued its sway over traditional rival East Bengal with a 2-0 win at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on 29 October 2022, extending its winning record to five matches in the Indian Super League (ISL).
Hugo Boumous and Manvir Singh were on the scoresheet for the Mariners, who enjoyed better ball possession but could do little in the East Bengal box because of the discipline shown in defence by Constantine’s men.
Manvir Singh of Mohun Bagan SG celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the ISL match between Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata. | Photo Credit: Focus Sports
Boumous produced a fine solo effort in the 56th minute as he dribbled past a couple of East Bengal defenders before firing a right-footer that brushed Kamaljeet’s outstretched hands to find its way into the net.
Manvir Singh scored the insurance goal 10 minutes later as his attempt flicked the legs of Kamaljit to find its way home.
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