East Bengal are all set to take on arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in a repeat of the IFA Shield final on Friday in Goa, with the former looking to avenge their defeat in the previous tournament and move ahead
in the Super Cup, with a virtual quarterfinal awaiting the two teams.
Just two weeks ago, Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith broke East Bengal hearts with a brilliant save in the penalty shootout, despite the red-and-gold brigade dominating throughout regulation and extra time.
The winner of the ‘Kolkata Derby’ will bag a direct berth in the semifinals, while a draw would see East Bengal advance, but only if Dempo can’t defeat Chennaiyin FC by five or more goals.
However, if Dempo win 4-0, it will all come down to a draw of lots between the Golden Eagles and the Red and Gold Brigade, provided the derby ends goalless.
If Dempo win by a four-goal margin despite having conceded against Chennaiyin and the derby ends goalless, then the Goan club will qualify.
In essence, East Bengal hold the upper hand, but Mohun Bagan’s fate is still in their own hands; win and they are through.
With such fine margins and enormous stakes, the third Kolkata Derby of the 2025–26 season promises nothing less than a thriller under the Goan floodlights.
The arithmetic adds tension to an already combustible game, but East Bengal head coach Óscar Bruzón has warned his footballers against complacency.
“We aren’t thinking about a draw. Mohun Bagan can score at any moment. So we will go out to win. Our mentality will be the same from the first minute to the last,” Bruzon said.
East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan, AIFF Super Cup 2025-26: When and where to watch live
The East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan match is scheduled for 7:30 pm IST. It will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website, while TV viewers in India can catch the action on the Star Sports Khel channel.
