Durand Cup 2025: Quarter-Final Fixtures To Be Revealed On 12th August, Kolkata Derby Brewing?: Report

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The group stage of the Durand Cup 2025 is nearing its conclusion, and both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant have booked their spots in the quarter-finals in style, finishing as table-toppers in their respective groups with a perfect winning record.

The knockout stage draw is set for Tuesday, August 12, as per Anandabazar Patrika and speculation is already swirling over whether the football-mad city will witness a East Bengal-Mohun Bagan Kolkata Derby as early as the last eight.

According to multiple reports, the tournament organisers are eager to stage the high-voltage clash on Sunday, August 17, at the Salt Lake Stadium. Anandabazar Patrika reports that it is believed that the organisers have already reached out to the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, requesting permission and adequate security arrangements for the marquee game. If the plan goes ahead, this could be the only quarter-final fixture to be held in Kolkata, ensuring a packed house and electrifying atmosphere.

In previous editions, the two Kolkata giants were often placed in the same group to guarantee a derby in the early stages. This year, however, they were drawn apart, making a knockout meeting the only possibility. Insiders claim that there has been a conscious effort to position the fixture in the quarter-finals rather than risk missing the blockbuster encounter later in the competition.

However, there's a wrinkle. Both clubs are group winners, and in most football tournaments, two top-placed sides do not face each other in the first knockout round. Altering the bracket to accommodate this derby could be seen as giving other teams a competitive edge, raising questions over fairness.

From Mohun Bagan's camp, sources say the team is prepared for a derby if it comes, with no hesitation about playing the match. East Bengal's stance appears less clear-cut. Some within the club feel they are not yet ready for such a high-intensity game, pointing to the fact that several players are still settling in. Others insist the Red and Gold Brigade have been in training for over six weeks, with many foreign recruits joining early, and are in a stronger position than their rivals, who have had late arrivals like Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren.

Social media has already been buzzing with unofficial posters and "leaked" schedules. But the real picture will emerge only after the final group match on Tuesday evening, when the official quarter-final fixtures are announced. Until then, the city waits in anticipation.