Chennai : East Bengal will face Chennaiyin FC for ISL 2026 clash at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with the kick-off scheduled for 17:00 IST.
Chennaiyin FC will be aiming to bounce back from a 1-2 defeat to Inter Kashi FC. Currently sitting 11th with five points from six matches, a victory on Saturday would take the two-time champions to eight points in the table.
East Bengal FC travel to Chennai for their first away match of the season, riding high on a historic 7-0 victory over Mohammedan SC in the Kolkata derby in their previous fixture, 17 days back. The Red and Gold Brigade currently sit fourth with 11 points from six matches. A vital away win would elevate them to 14 points, keeping their title hopes alive.
Chennaiyin FC hold a slight edge in this fixture. In their 10 previous ISL encounters, Chennaiyin have three victories compared to East Bengal FC’s two, alongside five draws. Their most recent clash in February 2025 saw Chennaiyin FC claim a commanding 3-0 away victory at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
Anticipating a tough contest, Chennaiyin FC head coach Clifford Miranda praised the opposition’s attacking threat. “East Bengal is the most balanced team in the league. They are very fast on the wings and can play possession or go direct,” Miranda stated. “They have scored the most goals in the league so far; it’s not easy to play against them.”
Chennaiyin FC defender Mandar Rao Dessai emphasised the importance of collective resilience. “It’s not only about defenders; we have to defend as a team,” Dessai added. “They have good wingers, but we also have experienced players. It’s a new game, and we are ready.”
For East Bengal FC, head coach Oscar Bruzon outlined his ambitions for the remainder of the campaign. “This is our first away game of the season. Last season, one of our best performances came in an away match against Chennaiyin,” Bruzon explained. “They are still trying to find their rhythm, but they are former champions and always contenders. We are eager to perform well in the next seven games and push towards the top positions.”
East Bengal FC midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti echoed the team’s focused mindset. “Every team in the ISL is competitive. Chennaiyin is a tough team, and we will give 100 per cent to win the match. We have had a long gap which helped us to recover well and we are looking forward to continue our performance from the last match.”
