It’s deja vu in the Indian Super League (ISL). Two years after they locked horns in a nail-biting 2022-23 final, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Bengaluru FC are at it again, this time in the 2024-25 edition of the ISL summit clash.

But while the names remain the same, the paths, head coaches, players, and playing styles have all evolved. One is chasing a historic club double, the other, redemption. It’s a clash between two clubs who know each other too well. Two sets of fans with long memories. The stakes are sky high. And just like last time, it promises to go down to the wire.

Let’s take a ride back to that electric night in March 2023 and trace what’s changed and what hasn’t since these two clubs last fought for the crown.

2022-23: A final to remember

Back in 2023, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, then coached by Juan Ferrando, lifted the ISL Cup after a nerve-racking 4-3 penalty shootout win over Bengaluru FC. The match ended 2-2 after extra time, with Dimitri Petratos scoring twice from the spot for the Mariners, while Sunil Chhetri and Roy Krishna got on the scoresheet for the Blues.

BFC were flying under the radar before that final. They had finished fourth in the league but pulled off a stunning 11-match unbeaten run en route to the summit clash under Simon Grayson. It was a vintage blend of experience and belief, with leaders like Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Javi Hernandez, Sandesh Jhingan, Roy Krishna, and a still-sprinting Sunil Chhetri at the core.

MBSG, on the other hand, were tactically compact and pragmatic, often relying on Petratos’ sharpness and the midfield craft of Hugo Boumous. The duo were often at the heart of almost everything MBSG did, creating chances and scoring goals.

2023-24: Drastic turns

The very next season was an emotional rollercoaster for both sides, although for different reasons.

MBSG, with Antonio Habas making a dramatic return mid-season, stormed to the ISL Shield with a mix of grit and glamour. Petratos was still firing but new arrivals like Armando Sadiku and Jason Cummings added bite up front. They used a 3-4-3 system that maximised width and high pressing.

Yet, in a twist of fate, MBSG faltered in the final against Mumbai City FC, losing 1-3 despite all their dominance through the campaign. It was a bitter pill for a side that had dreamt of a double.

Bengaluru FC, meanwhile, saw a dip. Grayson parted ways mid-season after a poor start, and Gerard Zaragoza stepped in. The rebuild was turbulent. BFC finished 10th out of 12 in the standings. There were glimpses of identity under Zaragoza, but the squad lacked consistency and cohesion. Two league defeats to MBSG summed up the gulf between the sides that year.

2024-25: A new chapter

Now, here we are in 2025. Same clubs, fresh context.

For the Mariners, Jose Molina’s appointment has been a masterstroke. Under the Spaniard, MBSG have transitioned to a slick 4-4-2 shape. MBSG have ditched the pragmatic approach. They press high, thrive on quick transitions and look to dominate opponents with purpose.

The Aussie duo of Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren have become a nightmare for defenders, supported ably by the likes of Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh. Add to that the creative brilliance of Petratos and Greg Stewart, two of the league's finest players and MBSG’s attack looks as complete as ever. At the back, captain Subhasish Bose continues to marshal the defence with authority while Vishal Kaith remains a pillar of reliability in goal. New signings like Tom Aldred and Alberto Rodriguez have brought added composure and steel to the backline.

The result? A record-breaking 56 points in the league stage and a thrilling semi-final comeback against a stubborn Jamshedpur FC side. MBSG are now chasing club history, having never won both the ISL Shield and ISL Cup in the same season.

Bengaluru FC, meanwhile, have found their feet again and how! Zaragoza’s system has finally clicked with new signings like Rahul Bheke, Alberto Noguera, Edgar Mendez and Pedro Capo making their front-foot, possession-based style tick. Sunil Chhetri, defying age yet again, remains the heartbeat of the team with attackers like Ryan Williams and Jorge Pereyra Díaz also in their ranks.

From a forgettable 10th-place finish the year before, BFC surged to fourth place this season, racking up 38 points. They thumped Mumbai City FC in a one-legged knockout clash, then dispatched FC Goa in a tightly fought semi-final. A massive turnaround.

What’s changed since 2023?

Ferrando and Grayson are gone. Molina brings title-winning pedigree, having won the ISL Cup with ATK FC in 2016. Zaragoza, once an assistant coach during Bengaluru FC’s 2018-19 ISL Cup triumph, is now at the helm.

Molina has struck the perfect balance, making MBSG ruthless at both ends of the pitch, while Zaragoza has injected purpose and structure into a rejuvenated BFC. The contrast from 2023 is stark. These are no longer the same teams, they’re now smarter, sharper and hungrier.

MBSG are chasing history, they want the double, something they have not achieved before while BFC are chasing redemption and a chance to claim their first ISL silverware in six years.

What’s still the same?

The fire. The stakes. The rivalry. Those elements haven’t changed. Both clubs continue to draw massive support and carry the weight of expectations. Bengaluru FC’s never-say-die mentality and MBSG’s relentless pursuit of silverware continue to define their identities. The memories of that 2022-23 final are still fresh and so is the hunger.

It’s another next chapter in one of the ISL’s most gripping rivalries. Will MBSG write history? Or will Bengaluru FC rise again from the ashes to snatch the Cup?

Whatever happens, drama is guaranteed. The grand finale is upon us.