Kolkata : Pride will be at stake as it’s time for the I-League’s first derby this season when bitter foes East Bengal and Mohun Bagan clash in front of a sellout crowd at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan here tomorrow.
The arch-rivals have met once earlier this season, in a local league match, when East Bengal demolished Mohun Bagan 4-0 to lift a sixth successive, and a record 37 overall title.
But much water has flowed under the Howrah bridge since the two met way back in September as East Bengal for a change will start as underdogs against Mohun Bagan, the defending champions who’re on a roll with two win on the trot to lead the standings, and ‘revenge’ is the buzzword for them, now.
Arrival of Haitian forward Sony Norde, who was instrumental in their maiden I-League triumph last season, just ahead of the big match adds sting to their already potent strike force that has scored seven goals from two matches.
Balwant Singh who has scored opening goals in two matches is a doubtful starter down with groin injury as star Indian forward Jeje Lalpekhula may start along side Cornell Glen, while Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde will add value from behind as Sanjoy Sen may go with 4-4-2 formation.
“Whatever the football pundits say, this match is always a 50-50 battle. I shall always respect East Bengal and holding the nerves will be the key to success,” the Mohun Bagan coach said insisting to calm down the hype in the Maidan.
But the green and maroon fans are not ready to budge as all their hopes hinge on the star player Norde who’s getting all the attention since his arrival in the wee hours of Monday.
“I will go for goal, let’s hope… However, even if I don’t get it, there are many other players in our team who can score,” he said in his message to the fans and added: “This team is a lot different compared to the one that played in the Kolkata League.”
East Bengal camp is grappling with injuries while their ace South Korean forward Do Dong Hyun, who had struck a first-half brace in their local league rout, is not in his elements coming off from a calf injury, and is still in search of his maiden I-League goal from two outings.
It will be a test of character for Do Dong as the occasion is apt to silence his critics at a time when the team is struggling with injury woes to midfelder Sehnaj Singh, Cavin Lobo, Gurwinder Singh and Harmanjot Singh Khabra.
East Bengal is likely to go in with a 4-1-3-2 formation with experienced Mehtab Hussain playing the role of a blocker in front of the central defenders . U23 footballer Avinash Ruidas will be used as an attacking midfielder . Korean Do Dong Hyun will play as a withdrawal forward along with Nigerian Ranty Martins.
Further, East Bengal’s new recruit and French defender Bernard Mendy is virtually ruled out with Visa issues.
“I don’t want to talk about a person who is unavailable. I will try to fight with my available resources,” East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya said.
The third round match tomorrow will once again be away match for East Bengal who have been on the road in the firs two matches.
East Bengal ( Probables ) : Rehenesh , Robert , Bello Rassaq , Arnab Mondal , Rahul Bheke , Mehtab Hussain , Harmanjot Singh Khabra , Bikash Jairu , Avinash Ruidas , Md Rafique/Do Dong and Ranty Martins .
Mohun Bagan ( Probables ) : Debjit , Pritam Kotal , Kingshuk , Luciano , Dhanachandra , Katsumi , Pronay Halder/Souvik Chakraborty , Brandon Fernandes /Azharuddin Mullick , Sony Norde , Glen , Balwant/Jeje
The match officials for tommorow’s derby are CR Srikrishna ( TN) , Swapan Kenedey ( Manipur ) , J Tony ( Karnataka ) and R Mugan Rohan ( Services ) . The match commissioner is Gulab Singh Chouhan .