I-League: East Bengal Vs Mohun Bagan - Preview, predicted lineups and team news

Siliguri, Feb 11: It is time for the biggest day in Indian football. The legendary Kolkata derby is back in action as arch-rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan lock horns tomorrow, February 12.

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The match has no short of entertainment values considering both the sides are at the top of the table and have remained unbeaten so far.

East Bengal lead the charts securing 19 points from 7 matches and Mohun Bagan have registered 16 points from 6 matches.

Kick off: 4:35 PM (IST)

Venue: Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri

The match will be telecasted LIVE on TEN 2

Team News

Neither of the teams have any sorts of injury crisis ahead of the big clash which will be a huge boost for both camps.

Mohun Bagan defender Eduardo Ferreira is back from injury and is all set to grace the field for the Green and Maroon in the big derby.

Coach Sanjoy Sen had dropped the Brazilian defender from the Bagan squad in their last two matches in I-League and AFC Cup respectively.

Eduardo's addition in the Bagan defense will be a huge confidence booster for the away side.

The rest of the team is expected to be unchanged with Sony Norde, Katsumi Yusa, Daryl Duffy and Jeje Lapekhlua forming the main pillar in the team's attack.

For East Bengal, veteran Mehtab Hossain will be back in action after missing out on the last match against Chennai City FC due to suspension.

Their newest foreign recruit Chris Payne has already reached Kolkata and in all probability, he will be in the matchday squad against the rivals.

Arnab Mondal, East Bengal's marquee central defender has gained match fitness and thus it will be interesting to see if the gaffer Trevor Morgan would give him his maiden start or keep his faith on Gurwinder Singh, whose recent performance has been eye-catching.

Predicted line-ups

East Bengal

Formation: 4-4-2

Goalkeeper: Rehenesh T.P

Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Ivan Bukenya, Gurwinder Singh, Narayan Das

Midfielders: Nikhil Poojary, Mehtab Hossain, Wedson Anselme, Lalrindika Ralte

Strikers: Willis Plaza, Robin Singh

Mohun Bagan

Formation: 4-4-2

Goalkeeper: Debjit Majumder

Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Eduardo Ferreira, Anas Edathodika, Subhashish Bose

Midfielders: Katsumi Yusa, Sehnaj Singh, Pronoy Halder, Sony Norde

Strikers: Jeje Lapekhlua, Daryl Duffy

Key Players

Sony Norde (Mohun Bagan)

Arguably the best foreign player in the I-League at the moment, Haitian international Sony Norde is the main man for Mohun Bagan in tomorrow's Kolkata Derby.

Sony Norde's silky footwork and sudden burst of pace down the left flank generally generates tremors down the opponent's defense. Norde's good form prove to be a game changer.

Willis Deon Plaza (East Bengal)

Willis Deon Plaza hardly took any time to introduce himself in Indian football. East Bengal's new recruit upfront has been a revelation for the club who has scored 5 goals so far in 7 matches.

The tall, well built Trinidad and Tobago international will be the man to match in East Bengal colours during the derby.

Katsumi Yusa (Mohun Bagan)

If Sony Norde's runs down the left flank wreak havoc on the opponent's backline, Katsumi Yusa's sheer pace down the right flank, as well as his ability to move around the field, makes him one of the most important players of the Bagan side. Narayan Das will have to keep a keen eye on the Japanese winger.

Wedson Anselme (East Bengal)

Sony Norde's compatriot and equally dangerous is East Bengal's midfield general Wedson Anselme. The Haitian midfielder has already scored a hat-trick in the league and is one of the top goal scorers after 7 matches.

Trevor James Morgan is using Wedson in an attacking midfielder/number 10 role in the team and he has done a fairly decent job.

Mohun Bagan midfielders have to be vigilant for Wedson's whose ability to pierce through the opponent defense and defense splitting passes can prove to be dangerous/

Prediction

East Bengal 1-1 Mohun Bagan

OneIndia News