Goa: The stage is set for the biggest match in Indian Football and the Indian Super League (ISL) as it hosts its first “Derby” as SC East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan face off each other at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco da Gama in Goa on Friday(November 27).
Popularly known as the “Boro Match” in Bengali language, this match steeped in history uniting a Bengali community with emotions and legacy attached with such a huge fan base for both sides. This match can be identified the same as the “Old Firm” of the Scottish League with supporters running the legacy of their respective lands in their veins. Going far back in history, these two first faced each other back 28 May 1925 in the Calcutta Football League with East Bengal emerging victorious by a single goal over Mohun Bagan.
Fast forward to 2020 a lot of things changed but not the intensity with it will be played. In total 369 matches have been played between them, SC East Bengal have the upper hand with 129 wins while ATK Mohun Bagan have come out victorious 119 times.
ATK Mohun Bagan will come into this game on the back of a win over Kerala Blasters FC in the season opener. Roy Krishna will be an obvious man to go for the goals while David Williams and Jayesh Rane will also be useful. However, they will be heavily relying on their center-back pairing of Tiri and Sandesh Jhingan with goalkeeper Arindam also playing a key role.
On the other hand, SC East Bengal will make their ISL debut under new head coach Robbie Fowler with firm intent to make their statements clear. Goalkeeper Debjit Majumder, having former experience of playing in this tournament will add solidity between the posts along with Rana Gharami, Narayan, and Balwant Singh adding more value to the squad.
Whereas from the foreign contingent, the likes of Danny Fox, Scott Neville and Anthony Pilkington will boost the Red and Gold.
SC East Bengal possible playing XI: Debjit Majumder(GK), Scott Neville, Danny Fox, Rana Gharami, Lalramchullova, Matti Steinmann, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Narayan Das; Anthony Pilkington, Jacques Maghoma, Balwant Singh
ATK Mohun Bagan Predicted XI: Arindam Bhattacharya(GK), Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Tiri, Prabir Das, Pronay Halder, Carl McHugh, Subhasish Bose; Javi Hernandez; David Williams, Roy Krishna
