Kolkata, April 3: High on confidence after their resounding 3-0 win over defending I-League champions Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan will look to register their first victory in the AFC Cup preliminary round when they take on Bangladesh's Abahani Limited Dhaka in a Group E tie.

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Bagan lost their opening game to Bengaluru at the latter's den by a 1-2 margin. But the green and maroon brigade avenged the defeat in style as their Japanese playmaker Yusa Katsumi scored a brace and Scotish striker Darryl Duffy netted one to help them trounce Bengaluru 3-0 at home.

Haitian star Sony Norde was the orchestrator in all the three goals, displaying sublime skills to brush aside his rivals.

Norde showed no signs of fatigue after a long travel due to national team commitments as he spurred the Bagan faithful at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium with his superlative display.

But Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen seems to be preferring the I-League title charge more than the AFC Cup contrary to Bengaluru whose ambitions of defending the domestic crown have all but gone up in smoke.

Barely three days after the I-League game and with the all-important Kolkata derby coming up against second-placed arch-rivals East Bengal, the third-placed side's coach would be keen to rest his important players.

Abahani Dhaka meanwhile, would look to put up a spirited show on the road after losing 0-2 to Maldives' Maziya Sports & Recreation in their first AFC Cup match.

They would, in all likelihood, miss the services of Ghanian defender Samad Yussif, who failed to procure his visa, it was learnt.

The 2016 Bangladesh Premier League champions usually line up in a 5-2-3 formation. Nigerian forward Emeka Onuoha and Welsh striker Jonathan Brown are the other two foreigners who have arrived.

Both Bagan and Abahani Dhaka are still to open their account so far from one outing.

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Predicted lineups

Mohun Bagan (4-4-2): Shilton Paul; Pritam Kotal, Eduardo, Anas Edathodia, Raju Gaikwad; Katsumi Yusa, Prabir Das, Sehnaj Singh, Sony Norde; Darryl Duffy, Balwant Singh

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Prediction

Mohun Bagan 2-0 Abahani Limited Dhaka

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