Rahul Giri in Guwahati
It was 10:30PM at a five-star hotel in Guwahati, and I was eagerly waiting for the East Bengal team to arrive, braving the chilly breeze as the temperature dipped to 13C. Within 10 minutes, the red-and-gold brigade’s bus entered the hotel premises, and as the players stepped out, their tired faces clearly reflected the fatigue of the journey.
And why not? They had their final training session in Kolkata around 11AM, and had to board an 8PM flight due to some logistical complications.
In contrast, the Mohun Bagan players appeared much more energetic when they arrived at the Guwahati airport around 5:30PM. They travelled in two batches and reached the city well ahead of East Bengal. Will this scheduling difference have any impact on the crucial derby game at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati?
While it could be a factor, there are plenty of other reasons why the odds seem heavily stacked in Mohun Bagan’s favour.
Yes, they will miss their reliable midfielder Anirudh Thapa due to a hamstring injury, but coach Jose Molina won’t be too worried, as he has ample options to replace him.
On the other hand, East Bengal’s concerns are far more significant. They will be without key players like Anwar Ali and Saul Crespo, which puts immense pressure on their defence.
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East Bengal’s defensive performance was heavily criticised in their last game against Mumbai City FC. Now, without Anwar, the onus will be on Lalchungnunga, Hector Yuste, and Maher Hijazi to hold off Mohun Bagan’s relentless attack — especially if the Mariners replicate their attacking display from the Hyderabad FC game.
Coach Oscar Bruzon might find some relief in the return of Souvik Chakraborty, who will partner Jeakson Singh in midfield. Souvik, a Bengal boy, knows the pulse of this derby better than most in the squad.
However, for East Bengal to stand any chance, their attackers Cleiton Silva and Dimitrios Diamantakos will need to step up and deliver their best performances.
Both Molina and Bruzon admitted in their pre-match press conferences that, despite the gap in the points table, the derby would be a 50-50 battle. But fans and experts believe otherwise. It’s hard to take the favourites tag away from Mohun Bagan.
Still, East Bengal fans will cling to hope, trusting Bruzon’s tactical prowess. Time and again, he has managed to steer his team out of troubled waters, and they’ll be counting on him to do it once more in this derby.
When the ball gets rolling at 7:30PM on Saturday, the atmosphere will undoubtedly feel different from the electrifying vibes of the Yuba Bharati Krirangan. With only 10,000 to 15,000 spectators expected at the stadium, the intensity will be missing.
However, one thing will remain unchanged — both sides will be equally hungry to chase their respective ambitions in this fierce rivalry.
Also Read: Mohun Bagan-East Bengal should aspire to be a global rivalry
The post From Kolkata to Guwahati: A Kolkata Derby Fuelled by Hope, Fatigue, and Fierce Rivalry appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports.
