The stage is set for another Kolkata Derby, this time with the 135th Durand Cup title at stake. East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant will meet at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday, August 23, with kick-off scheduled for 5 pm IST.
The two Kolkata giants have taken contrasting routes to the summit, but both will arrive in Salt Lake with a clear objective. Mohun Bagan are the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition, while East Bengal will be determined to avenge their 1-0 defeat to the Mariners in the opening game of the tournament.
Mohun Bagan began their campaign on July 25 by defeating East Bengal through Sahal Abdul Samad’s second-half strike. They followed that result with emphatic victories over South United FC and CISF Protectors, scoring 14 goals in the two matches without conceding.
East Bengal responded strongly to their opening defeat. Antonio López Habas’s side thrashed CISF Protectors 8-0 before beating South United FC 5-0 to qualify for the knockout stage as one of the two best runners-up from the six groups.
The knockout rounds have produced very different challenges for the two sides.
East Bengal edged Indian Army FT 1-0 in the quarter-final, with PV Vishnu scoring in the 38th minute, before overcoming Sporting Club Delhi on penalties after a goalless semi-final.
Mohun Bagan were pushed all the way by Jamshedpur FC in the quarter-final, eventually prevailing 9-8 in a marathon penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Their semi-final against defending champions NorthEast United FC also ended goalless, with Vishal Kaith’s saves from Robin Yadav and Parthib Gogoi helping the Mariners win 4-3 on penalties.
The defensive numbers underline just how closely matched the finalists have been. Mohun Bagan have scored 16 goals and conceded only once in six matches, while East Bengal have scored 14 and also conceded just one goal — that coming in the opening derby.
Mohun Bagan therefore hold a slight statistical advantage, largely because of their prolific group-stage performances. East Bengal, however, have demonstrated their ability to negotiate tense knockout matches and remain compact under pressure, a quality that could prove decisive in a final.
Sunday’s match will be the 13th Durand Cup final meeting between the two clubs. The rivalry is currently tied at five final victories apiece, with two other finals ending with the teams being declared joint champions.
The most recent final meeting came in 2023, when Dimitrios Petratos scored in the 71st minute to give a ten-man Mohun Bagan a 1-0 victory over East Bengal.
There is also a major historical prize at stake. Mohun Bagan, the record 17-time Durand Cup champions, can extend their lead to 18 titles with victory. East Bengal, who have won the competition 16 times, can draw level with their rivals.
Sahal has emerged as one of the key figures for Mohun Bagan in this year’s tournament. After scoring the winner in the opening derby, he added a hat-trick against CISF Protectors. Manvir Singh has also provided a major attacking threat, scoring three times against South United.
At the other end, goalkeeper Vishal Kaith has once again demonstrated his value, particularly during the semi-final penalty shootout.
East Bengal will look towards captain Mohammed Basim Rashid for inspiration. The midfielder struck the crossbar twice against Sporting Club Delhi and then converted the decisive penalty in the shootout. Goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill has also played a crucial role, saving one penalty during normal time and another in the shootout.
Mohun Bagan have strengthened their attacking options ahead of the final with the additions of Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, who joined from East Bengal, and India winger Lallianzuala Chhangte. Both were registered for the knockout stages and came off the bench in the semi-final.
Tactically, the final could present an intriguing battle between two contrasting approaches.
Habas has built East Bengal around defensive organisation, patience and quick counter-attacks, with the pace of players such as PV Vishnu providing an outlet when possession is regained. East Bengal have shown during the knockout rounds that they are comfortable absorbing pressure before exploiting opportunities through set pieces and transitions.
“The Kolkata Derby is a uniquely special match in India, but we have to approach it like any other game. In fixtures of this magnitude, you don’t need any extra motivation; you simply need to control your emotions for the full 90 minutes,” Habas said.
“Ultimately, the team that plays with more intelligence on the pitch will win the match.”
Mohun Bagan coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, meanwhile, has encouraged his side to dominate possession and territory while maintaining their defensive discipline. Their group-stage performances, in which they scored 15 goals and conceded none, demonstrated their ability to control matches from the front.
Dilmperis expects the mental battle to be just as important as the tactical one.
“East Bengal has undeniable quality and experience, but we are looking to finish this game in 90 minutes. We have a lot of experience in our squad, but in a match like this, experience alone is not enough,” he said.
“If you don’t play with passion, it becomes a problem. These games are won in the mental battle, and tomorrow we have to master our emotions to get the win.”
For Samir Zeljkovic, the final will also mark his first experience of the Kolkata Derby.
“Tomorrow will be my first Derby, and I am incredibly proud to be a part of the biggest game in Indian football. We are adjusting well, improving every day, and our only focus is on winning the trophy,” he said.
The final could ultimately be decided by which side succeeds in imposing its preferred style. East Bengal will look to draw Mohun Bagan forward and exploit the space behind their defence, while the Mariners will hope to establish control early and reproduce the intensity that earned them victory in the opening derby.
With the Durand Cup, Kolkata bragging rights and a piece of history at stake, Sunday promises to deliver another memorable chapter in one of Indian football’s most enduring rivalries. And if the two sides cannot be separated after 90 minutes, penalties could once again have the final say.
(Inputs from Durand Cup Media)
