It’s derby day. Mohun Bagan Super Giant will host ISL debutants Mohammedan Sporting at Salt Lake, in the first Kolkata derby of the current ISL season, to kick-off at 7:30 pm. Both sides have four points in three games, coming into this match.
While the green-and-maroons come into this match after a 3-0 away defeat to Bengaluru FC, the Black Panthers got full points against Chennaiyin FC from a narrow 1-0 win, in Chennai, in their last fixture. Sporting in their first three games have shown a brilliant display of football worthy of at least two more points, but late goals cost them.
“We took that into account and checked it in our last game as it reflected on the result,” Sporting’s head coach Andrey Chernyshov said at the pre-match press conference.
On the other hand, it was an underwhelming performance from Bagan, facing serious defensive issues in their first three games. Judging by the current form, Sporting can trouble the defending shield winners.
“Any match at this level is difficult and we know they have some outstanding players. We will have to give our best,” said Jose Molina, the Bagan head coach at the pre-match press conference. “Credit to Bengaluru that they took advantage of our mistakes but we didn’t play so poorly to lose 3-0. It was not just our day,” he added.
Is there any pressure on Jose Molina after the Carles Cuadrat incident? He replied with a laugh!
It is going to be a cracker of an encounter! #KolkataDerby #JoseMolina @RevSportzGlobal @MbcOfficial pic.twitter.com/r2XioIGIpY
— Rohan Chowdhury (@RohanDC98) October 5, 2024
Bagan, meanwhile, have some injury issues. Molina will miss the services of Sahal Abdul Samad, who is out with a hamstring pull, and Manvir Singh is doubtful. Manvir, who suffered a knock on the ankle during the training session on October 2, and didn’t train the following day, was seen attending the matchday minus one session. He started with some personal rehabilitation procedures with the physio and later he joined the main sessions – crossing and shooting drills with the first team. Liston Colaco might start as a replacement to Manvir if he doesn’t play.
“He is doubtful and we have to check further if he can play,” said Molina at the presser. Everyone else will be available for selection, including Spanish centre-back, Alberto Rodriguez, who missed the North East and Bengaluru games due to injury. For Sporting and Chernyshov’s point of view, it’s they are expected to field an unchanged XI from the Chennai game.
Fan banters and off-field dramas make derbies even more special. A few days back, a social media post by Bagan, mentioning this match as a ‘Mini Derby’ garnered negative attention from their opponents. Sporting officials and fans were seen raising their voices to the media: “This is not ‘Mini’, but a ‘Super Derby’,” said one of the officials. “We rose through the ranks from the second division and some other clubs get investors, pay the entry fee and play the league, that’s why they are ‘Big’ and we ‘Mini’?” a question raised by a fan mocking the other two Kolkata Giants.
🚨 Mohun Bagan will be more desperate to win this one after their 3-0 defeat to Bengaluru.
Coach Chernyshov in the presser. @MohammedanSC #KolkataDerby pic.twitter.com/LShKUeBFHN
— Rohan Chowdhury (@RohanDC98) October 5, 2024
As it seems, the atmosphere is already building, as these two sides with storied legacies set to face each other for the first time in the ISL. It is expected to be a cracker of a game, with one team in red-hot form, while the other is one of the most successful sides in the competition.
“Mohun Bagan are one of the best sides in the league and after their defeat in the last game, they will be more desperate to win this one,” said Chernyshov. “We will be prepared for any test,” he added.
Prediction: 1-1