The AIFF announces the fixtures of the I-League 2017-18

The first Kolkata derby will be played on December 3

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Mohun Bagan to face East Bengal in the first Derby of the season on December 3. File Pic

Kolkata: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced the fixture of the forthcoming I-League 2017-18 season. In the first match of the season the City giant Mohun Bagan will begin their campaign with an away game against Minerva Punjab FC on November 25. On the other hand East Bengal will start their I-League campaign, against the current title holders Aizawl FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on November 28. The first I-League derby of the season will take place on December 3 in Kolkata. It will be a home game of the Green and Maroon Brigade. Both the sides will again face each other on January 13 in the return-leg of the I-League Derby.

Two-time I-League champions Bengaluru FC will not feature in this year’s I-League as they will play Indian Super League from this season, on the other hand DSK Shivajians won’t take part in the league too due their lack of interest. In their place two new teams will take part in this season’s I-League, they are Gokulam FC from Kerala and Neroca FC from Manipur. The Green and Maroon Brigade will have an easy opponent in form of Minerva Punjab FC in the season opener. But East Bengal will have a tough task at home as they will face the current I-League Champions Aizawl FC. It will be an important match for East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil as he was the coach of Aizawl last season when they won their maiden I-League title.

The Green and Maroon coach Sanjoy Sen looked pretty confident ahead of facing Minerva Punjab in their opening game.”In last couple of seasons we played at home in our first game. You always have to be prepared for these kind of situations. We played our two warm-up games against the ISL side, which were away matches too. Our focus will be to take three points in our opening match against Minerva Punjab FC,” said Sen while talking to the media.

Mohun Bagan faced arch-rival East Bengal in the third or fourth match during 2016-17 season, but both the teams will lock horns against each other in their second match of the ongoing season. On being asked about the matter Sen replied,” It’s a decision of the AIFF. If the match would happen later it would have been better for us but we are preparing ourselves to play any match at any time.”

Hero I-League 2017-18 fixture

Details of Mohun Bagan games –

November 25, 2017 (Saturday) – Minerva Punjab FC vs Mohun Bagan (Ludhiana) (2 p.m.)

December 3, 2017 (Sunday) – Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

December 10, 2017 (Sunday) – Mohun Bagan vs Churchill Brothers (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

December 14, 2017 (Thursday) – Mohun Bagan vs Shillong Lajong (Kolkata) (5:30 p.m.)

December 19, 2017 (Tuesday) – Mohun Bagan vs Neroca FC (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

December 26, 2017 (Tuesday) – Churchill Brothers vs Mohun Bagan (Goa) (8 p.m.)

December 29, 2017 (Friday) – Mohun Bagan vs Indian Arrows (Kolkata) (5:30 p.m.)

January 2, 2018 (Tuesday) – Mohun Bagan vs Chennai City FC (Kolkata) (8 p.m.)

January 7, 2018 (Sunday) – Mohun Bagan vs Aizawl FC (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

January 10, 2018 (Wednesday) – Mohun Bagan vs Minerva Punjab FC (Kolkata) (5:30 p.m.)

January 13, 2018 (Saturday) – East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan (Kolkata) (5:30 p.m.)

January 20, 2018 (Saturday) – Gokulam Kerala FC vs Mohun Bagan (Kozhikode) (5:30 p.m.)

January 25, 2018 (Thursday) – Aizawl FC vs Mohun Bagan (Aizawl) (2 p.m.)

February 3, 2018 (Saturday) – Shillong Lajong vs Mohun Bagan (Shillong) (5:30 p.m.)

February 6, 2018 (Tuesday) – Chennai City FC vs Mohun Bagan (Coimbatore) (8 p.m.)

February 12, 2018 (Monday) – Mohun Bagan vs Gokulam Kerala FC (Kolkata) (8 p.m.)

February 18, 2018 (Sunday) – Neroca FC vs Mohun Bagan (Imphal) (2 p.m.)

To be Decided – Indian Arrows vs Mohun Bagan (New Delhi) (To Be Decided)

Details of East Bengal games –

November 28, 2017 (Tuesday)- East Bengal vs Aizawl FC (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

December 3, 2017 (Sunday) – Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

December 9, 2017 (Saturday)- East Bengal vs Shillong Lajong (Kolkata) (5.30 p.m.)

December 16, 2017 (Saturday)- East Bengal vs Churchill Brothers (Kolkata) (5.30 p.m.)

December 23, 2017 (Saturday)- Chennai City FC vs East Bengal (Coimbatore) (2 p.m.)

December 27, 2017 (Wednesday)- East Bengal vs Gokulam Kerala FC (Kolkata) (8 p.m.)

December 30, 2017 (Saturday)- Neroca FC vs East Bengal (Imphal) (2 p.m.)

January 2, 2018 (Tuesday)- Indian Arrows vs East Bengal (Delhi) (2 p.m.)

January 6, 2018 (Saturday)- Churchill Brothers vs East Bengal (Goa) (2 p.m.)

January 13, 2018 (Saturday) – East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan (Kolkata) (5:30 p.m.)

January 21, 2018 (Sunday) – East Bengal vs Minerva Punjab FC (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

January 29, 2018 (Monday) – Aizawl FC vs East Bengal (Kolkata) (2 p.m.)

February 5, 2018 (Monday) – East Bengal vs Indian Arrows (Kolkata) (8 p.m.)

February 13, 2018 (Tuesday) – Minerva Punjab FC vs East Bengal (Ludhiana) (8 p.m.)

February 17, 2018 (Saturday) – Gokulam Kerala FC vs East Bengal (Kozhikode) (2 p.m.)

February 24, 2018 (Saturday) – East Bengal vs Chennai City FC (Kolkata) (5.30 p.m.)

February 27, 2018 (Tuesday) – East Bengal vs Neroca FC (Kolkata) (8 p.m.)

To be Decided – Shillong Lajong FC vs East Bengal (Shillong) (To Be Decided)