East Bengal, who have lost four straight in the Indian Super League (ISL), will try to end their losing skid on Saturday when they play their bitter rivals, Mohun Bagan, in the eagerly anticipated Kolkata derby.

Following the cancellation of the August Durand Cup match due to security concerns, fans have been eagerly awaiting this match. East Bengal is trying to turn things around and get their first ISL victory under the direction of new head coach Oscar Bruzon.

Being the only team without a victory and at the bottom of the standings, East Bengal has had a difficult start to the season. Due to the team’s dismal performance, Carles Cuadrat, the coach who won the Super Cup the previous season, left, and Bruzon is now in charge of turning around the Red and Gold Brigade’s campaign. East Bengal has a less than great record against Mohun Bagan, though, having lost all eight of their previous ISL meetings and giving up at least two goals each time.

Mohun Bagan, on the other side, has had a better start to the season and is now in fourth place after two victories, one tie, and one defeat. They have been vulnerable on defense, giving up seven goals in four games despite their offensive strength. After a convincing 3-0 victory over Mohammedan SC, their coach, Jose Molina, will concentrate on strengthening their defense as they look to win two straight games.

At Salt Lake Stadium, Mohun Bagan has been in excellent attacking form. All 12 of the Mariners’ home ISL games in 2024 have had goals, with at least two goals scored in 11 of those contests. Mohun Bagan has the second-highest goal total at a single location in ISL history with 29 goals this season at home.

With the top shooting accuracy in the league at 55.8% and an average of 7.3 shots on goal per game, their attacking statistics this season are as impressive. They are a strong opponent because no other team has been able to equal these stats.

The most passes into the final third this season have been attempted by French midfielder Madih Talal, who has been an outstanding player for East Bengal. East Bengal’s offensive strategy will heavily rely on Talal’s ability to create plays.

Dimitri Petratos of Mohun Bagan is an important player to keep an eye on because he helped score five goals in previous derbies versus East Bengal. Greg Stewart has also been playing well; in his most recent game, he recorded two assists from set pieces. His ability to perform well under pressure will give Mohun Bagan’s offense a new dimension.

Also Read: top 10 richest footballer in the world

As he enters his debut ISL game, Bruzon will face a formidable opponent. He would be keen to improve the team’s dismal record in managerial debuts, since he is only the second East Bengal manager to make his ISL debut against Mohun Bagan. The only East Bengal coach to maintain a clean sheet in his first game in charge is still Carles Cuadrat.

Subhasish Bose, the captain of Mohun Bagan, stresses the need of keeping up their winning streak. “A derby is not the same. Teams bring a new level of intensity regardless of previous defeats. To maintain our position at the top, we are focused on winning,” Bose stated.

The return of Sahal Abdul Samad, who has been sidelined by a hamstring ailment, will also help the Mariners.