East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: Three key player battles in Kolkata Derby in ISL 2024-25

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East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: East Bengal will take on Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the first Kolkata derby of the ISL 2024-25 season on Saturday, October 19, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

Both teams will come into the match positioned at opposite sides of the table. Mohun Bagan, despite failing to hit top gear yet, are fourth with two wins in two matches. On the other hand, East Bengal are in last place, losing all four of their league games so far.

Despite their recent mismatch in form, Kolkata derbies have been a rite of passage for players of both teams, with matches being shaped by individual brilliance as much as by team effort. This year will be no different, with both teams likely to field their best playing XI on Saturday.

Let's have a look at the three key player battles that will likely decide the outcome of the first Kolkata derby of ISL 2024-25.

3. Cleiton Silva vs Subhashish Bose

Cleiton Silva has turned into East Bengal's first bonafide star in the ISL era since moving from Bengaluru FC in 2022. The Brazilian attacker has logged almost five thousand minutes for the Red and Gold Brigade, leading from the front as East Bengal's main goal threat.

It was Cleiton's extra-time goal that brought East Bengal their first Super Cup win, ending their 12-year national trophy drought. However, Father Time seems to have caught up with Cleiton, who turned 37 in February. The attacker has yet to open his account goal account for the club in its four league matches.

He will now face Subhashish Bose, who is himself going through a rough patch of form of late. The defender has been a part of a Mohun Bagan defence that has let in seven goals in four matches, and he had a horror show in national team colours in the recent friendly match against Vietnam.

Cletino vs Shubhashish will be a chance for these two out-of-form players to turn their luck around in front of a packed stadium, and one player will likely come out of the match with a bigger smile than the other.

2. Anwar Ali vs Jamie Maclaren

Anwar Ali is a name that will be linked with the East Bengal and Mohun Bagan rivalry forever, being the latest to cross over from the Mariners to their city rivals after a protracted and ugly transfer saga.

He has been one of the better players in the Red and Gold jersey despite their miserable league showing so far, and his aerial presence will be key against the killer instincts of Jamie Maclaren.

Maclaren came back from a debilitating injury in style, scoring in Mohun Bagan's 3-0 over Mohammedan SC in the last match week. He is still far from being the player that holds the all-time top scorer mantle in the Australian A-League. However, his immense pedigree, as well as his leadership skills and fox-in-the-box mentality will be key for the Mariners to assert dominance over their opponents.

Sahal Abdul Samad vs Saul Crespo

Despite their imperfect league results, Mohun Bagan will be buoyed by the news that Sahal Abdul Samad was back training with the main squad after an injury scare against Bengaluru FC in the ISL.

The central midfielder is one of the Indian players in Mohun Bagan's roster, and will likely feature over Anirudh Thapa in the number ten position. Sahal's creative flair will be an asset against East Bengal, who will likely be on the back foot for the majority of the contest.

However, Sahal will come against the Spanish midfield engine Saul Crespo in an ultimate battle to control the middle of the park. Saul is the beating heart of East Bengal's play and will act as the connection between attack and defence while carrying a goal threat of his own.

It is said that games are won or lost in the midfield, and the winner of the this personal battle might very likely be a member of the prevailing rival