‘Kolkata Derby’ — the term doesn’t need any introduction to Indian football fanatics. The century-old mouthwatering duel has attained several new heights over time, and the thrill and passion surrounding this highly anticipated fixture have remained alive throughout the generations.

The Indian Super League (ISL) is set to witness another gigantic clash between two of the Kolkata giants in Saturday’s doubleheader. Mohun Bagan Super Giant will host their arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the reverse fixture at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.

Known for its unpredictable nature and tooth-and-nail fight, the ‘Boro Match’ promises to be more exciting than ever and arguably holds key significance for both teams.

Despite both teams coming off contrasting forms, there are no favourites in the Kolkata Derby, as its outcome depends solely on the players’ on-field character, resilience, and do-or-die spirits.

The Mariners are the current league leaders, with 32 points from 14 matches, holding a five-point advantage over second-placed Bengaluru FC. Meanwhile, the Red and Gold Brigade are winless in their last two outings and are now in 11th spot in the points table, with 14 points from 14 matches.

East Bengal FC are yet to record their first derby victory in the ISL. Having faced their rivals nine times in the league, the Red and Gold Brigade managed to draw once and lost the rest of the eight games.

The derby is 🆙 next! 💪#JoyEastBengal #ISL #MBSGEBFC pic.twitter.com/WCYpGllUFP

— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) January 8, 2025

With Mohun Bagan SG maintaining their dominance over the neighbours, the East Bengal FC side will be pumped up to right the wrongs by snapping their winless run in this high-octane fixture.

We’ve analyzed how the Red and Gold Brigade can overcome the Mariners in the high-voltage Kolkata derby. Here’s how:

Silva-Diamantakos’ Striking Partnership

Madih Talal’s season-ending injury dealt a daunting blow to East Bengal FC’s offensive dynamics, as their forward line now relies on the Cleiton Silva and Dimitrios Diamantakos duo. The Red and Gold Brigade will depend on this partnership to break through the Mariners’ resolute defence.

Diamantakos and Silva average 0.8 and 0.5 goals against Mohun Bagan SG, respectively. The Greek striker has scored four goals against the Mariners, while the Brazilian forward has scored two goals and provided two assists.

Quick Counterattacks

The Red and Gold Brigade showcased their potential in quick counterattacking moves under Bruzon’s stewardship.

East Bengal FC boasts skilled wingers like Naorem Mahesh Singh, PV Vishnu, Nandhakumar Sekar, and others—who possess rapid speed and deft footwork and are capable of beating their marker in 1v1 situations. It will be an edge-of-the-seat thriller to see how they challenge Subhasish Bose-led Mohun Bagan SG’s defence.

So far in the ISL 2024-25 season, the Red and Gold Brigade have recorded 769 final third entries, attempted 23 direct attacks, and maintained 47.89% ball possession. Moreover, they have fired 50 shots on target, with a shot conversion rate of 9.25%. The Kolkata Giants have also won possession 559 times and averaged 7.4 interceptions per game while winning 151 fouls.

Early Goal, Early Delight

Mohun Bagan SG broke the deadlock seven out of nine times against East Bengal FC, resulting in victories. This record underscores the significance of opening the scoring in this fixture, taking an early advantage over the opponent.

Despite East Bengal FC scoring only three goals in the first half compared to Mohun Bagan SG’s 14 in the 2024-25 season, breaking the deadlock early will play a pivotal role in the upcoming match. Notably, Jose Molina’s men have conceded five goals in the opening 15 minutes, which could give the Red and Gold Brigade a ray of hope in their pursuit of the opener.

The Offside Trap?

East Bengal FC have caught their opponents offside 41 times in 14 games during the ongoing ISL season, the most by any side in the league. Under Oscar Bruzon, they have caught their opponents offside four or more times in a game five times— the most such instances for any head coach this season.

This indicates that the Spaniard’s strategy of playing with a high-line defence has been effective in thwarting opponents’ attacking flair. It will be interesting to see how effectively the Red and Gold Brigade can execute their tactics against the Jamie Maclaren-led Mariners' forward line.

On the other hand, Mohun Bagan SG have been caught offside 23 times this season. Moreover, the Mariners were caught offside 13 times in their previous nine meetings against East Bengal FC.

Resilience Holds the Key

East Bengal FC demonstrated their never-say-die attitude in recent matches, showcasing second-half turnarounds. Bruzon’s men have scored 13 out of 16 goals in the final half, highlighting their strength in changing the game when coming from behind.

Mohun Bagan SG recorded 15 goals in the second half, whereas the Red and Gold Brigade conceded 10 goals (50%) in the final 45 minutes.

Given the Mariners’ versatility in the forward line and their multiple goalscorers, East Bengal FC defenders will need to be on their toes and maintain their steel nerves until the very last second of the game to secure a favourable outcome.