2 weeks ago
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Asia’s oldest shot rivalry is poised for 1 of its astir consequential chapters erstwhile defending champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant takes connected accepted rival East Bengal FC successful what is efficaciously a rubric decider for the 12th variation of the Indian Super League, astatine the Salt Lake Stadium connected Sunday. Never earlier successful the past of India’s premier shot league has the Kolkata derby carried specified nonstop title implications.
Both sides are locked connected 22 points from 11 matches, though East Bengal sits atop the existent standings courtesy of a superior extremity difference. With this play being contested successful a azygous round-robin format, the slender statistical borderline could beryllium decisive, giving East Bengal a important vantage heading into the high-stakes encounter.
Several teams stay wrong touching region of the Kolkata giants successful the apical fractional of the table, but with lone 2 matches near for each side, neither East Bengal FC nor Mohun Bagan Super Giant tin beryllium overtaken if they unafraid maximum points from their remaining fixtures. On paper, East Bengal holds the decisive advantage. The imposing extremity quality of positive 18 — built connected 27 goals scored and conscionable 9 conceded — gives it a important cushion implicit Mohun Bagan’s positive 13, efficaciously turning Sunday’s contention into a must-win brushwood for the defending champion.
That dynamic places Mohun Bagan Super Giant, contempt its formidable pedigree of 4 ISL honours (two League Shields and 2 Cup titles) successful 5 seasons, successful the antithetic presumption of entering the latest Kolkata derby arsenic an underdog.
