Mohun Bagan Super Giants will face Punjab FC, the I-League Champions who have been promoted to the ISL, in the Durand Cup on Monday evening. Mohun Bagan go into the match after a dominant performance in their tournament opener against the Bangladesh Army. Juan Ferrando, their coach who was absent in the previous match, will be back in charge, along with several senior players who have been registered to bolster the squad. The addition of players like Dimi Petratos, Ashish Rai, Vishal Kaith, and Subhasish Bose will make this an even tougher challenge for Punjab FC.
The MBSG reserve side, with an average age of 19 and no foreign players, achieved an incredible victory against the Bangladesh Army and remains unbeaten in the ongoing Calcutta Football League. Players like Suhail Bhat, Nongdamba Naorem, Taison Sing, and Engson Sing have been in the spotlight due to their impressive performances. With the inclusion of senior players, MBSG is expected to be too strong for the ISL’s newest team.
But Punjab FC will be quietly confident of upsetting the ISL champions in their campaign opener. They boast accomplished foreign players such as Juan Mera, Luka Majcen, and Kiran Limbu, who have experience of playing in India over the past few years. Majcen, the top scorer in the I-League 2022-23, will lead Punjab’s attack and could be a threat to the Mohun Bagan defence, which will be without any foreign players. Mera, the prolific winger, is also expected to be a key player with his skills, pace, and deadly crosses.
Mohun Bagan will rely on Liston Colaco and Suhail Bhat to lead their attacking efforts. Bhat, the leading goal scorer in the ongoing CFL, will be eager to make an impact in this high-stakes match. Additionally, fans can look forward to witnessing the debut of the towering defender Anwar Ali, who impressed in the SAFF Championship and Intercontinental Cup for the national team.
Ferrando will be well aware of Punjab FC’s strong attacking capabilities and plans to adopt a more aggressive approach in the match. He also has the opportunity to experiment with his playing XI ahead of the upcoming Kolkata derby and AFC Cup game.
Securing three points from this encounter would be crucial to Mohun Bagan’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages with a favourable goal difference and a match in hand.