Mohun Bagan vs Ravshan Kulob: Will Kolkata Giants Overcome Defensive Woes in AFC Champions League Two?

Add as a preferred source on Google

Winless in their last two outings, Mohun Bagan Super Giants, under their new coach Jorge Molina, will begin their continental campaign as ISL Shield winners in the revamped AFC Champions League Two, previously known as the AFC Cup.

Unlike the top-tier AFC Champions League, now known as the Champions League Elite with a reduced format of 24 participants, Mohun Bagan couldn't secure a berth in the top-tier competition but will have bigger ambitions in the second-tier tournament. They begin their campaign in the group stages against Tajik club Ravshan Kulob.

Mohun Bagan will look to improve on their group-stage exit from the AFC Cup last season, where only one team from each group qualified. Odisha FC claimed that spot, making it to the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Central Coast Mariners.

The Kolkata Giants, who have reached the inter-zone play-offs twice since 2021, will fancy their chances, as the new format allows two teams to qualify from each group. However, two consecutive undesirable results at home (a defeat in the Durand Cup final and a draw against Mumbai City after leading 2-0 in the ISL) have dented their confidence early in the season under the new Spanish coach.

With three of their foreign players — Jamie Maclaren, Alberto Rodríguez, and recent signing Nuno Reis — unavailable for the match, Molina has a task on his hands early in the season. Ravshan, on the other hand, have all seven of their foreign players available for the match. Notably, the AFC competitions now allow unlimited foreign players in the line-up.

Defensive Frailties of Mohun Bagan

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Molina did not confirm if Jamie and Alberto would be fit for the match as they are recovering from injuries, but club insiders have suggested they are likely to miss out. The squad still boasts four quality foreigners, including Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings, and Greg Stewart in attack.

However, the defence remains a concern, with Tom Aldred the only foreign centre-back available. The club is also reeling from the controversial departure of star Indian defender Anwar Ali, who could have been an ideal player in this situation.

Fans and the club’s think tank alike must be worried, as glaring defensive gaps have been exposed with Mohun Bagan conceding goals after taking two-goal leads in recent matches. Their best chance may lie in their superior squad depth, with top Indian talents like Sahal Abdul Samad, Manvir Singh, Apuia, and Liston Colaco available, while their Tajik opponents may not be of the same calibre.

Ravshan Kulob: Perennial Underperformers in AFC

Ravshan Kulob, who finished second in the Tajikistan top-tier last season, may boast of having seven foreigners in their line-up but have historically been underperformers in AFC competitions, never advancing beyond the group stages.

Ravshan failed to win any of their six group matches last season and have often been overshadowed by Tajik giants Istiklol, who have regularly featured in the AFC Champions League and were AFC Cup runners-up in 2017. Ravshan, however, might benefit from being mid-season in their league (which started in April), while their opponents, Mohun Bagan, are just starting their season and are yet to find their winning combination.

Mohun Bagan vs Ravshan Kulob Predicted Starting 11

Mohun Bagan: Vishal Kaith (GK); Tom Aldred, Dippendu Biswas, Subhasish Bose; Asish Rai, Anirudh Thapa, Apuia, Liston Colaco; Greg Stewart; Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings

Ravshan Kulob: Yevhen Hrytsenko (GK); Sorbon Giyosov, Kholmurod Nazarov, Siddiq Issah, Saidkhoni Amrokhon; Samuel Ofori, Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov, Kojo Matic; Andriy Markovych, Shodidzhon Murodov, Bakhtiyor Zaripov

Mohun Bagan vs Ravshan Kulob Head-to-head Result

This is the first time the two clubs are facing off at the senior level.

Last Five Match Results

Ravshan Kulob

• Ravshan Kulob 4-1 Eskhata (Vysshaya Liga, 06.09) – Win
• Ravshan Kulob 1-0 CSKA Pomir Dushanbe (Vysshaya Liga, 18.08) – Win
• Panjsher 1-1 Ravshan Kulob (Vysshaya Liga, 11.08) – Draw
• IMT Novi Beograd 0-4 Ravshan Kulob (Club Friendly, 10.07) – Win
• Ural 5-0 Ravshan Kulob (Club Friendly, 07.07) – Loss

Mohun Bagan

• Mohun Bagan 2-2 Mumbai City (Indian Super League, 13.09) – Draw
• Mohun Bagan 2-3 NorthEast United (Durand Cup Playoffs, 31.08, lost on penalties) – Loss
• Mohun Bagan 2-2 Bengaluru FC (Durand Cup Playoffs, 27.08, won on penalties) – Win
• Mohun Bagan 3-3 Punjab (Durand Cup Playoffs, 23.08, won on penalties) – Win
• Mohun Bagan 6-0 Indian Air Force (Durand Cup, 08.08) – Win

Mohun Bagan vs Ravshan Kulob Current Squads

Ravshan Kulob

Goalkeepers (GK): Yevhen Hrytsenko (Ukraine), Mukhammadrabi Rakhmatulloev

Defenders (DF): Dmitriy Pavlish (Ukraine), Saidkhoni Amrokhon, Rakhmatsho Rakhmatzoda, Bakhtovari Khurshed, Samuel Ofori (Ghana), Kholmurod Nazarov, Mukhammad Naskov, Azizbek Khaitov, Mukhammad Mukhammadzoda

Midfielders (MF): Dzhamshed Nurodov, Nozim Babadjanov, Masrur Kiyomidinov, Evgheni Oancea (Moldova), Shodidzhon Nurodov, Musa Nurnazarov (Turkmenistan), Khurshed Abdulloev, Yuriy Batyushyn (Ukraine)

Forwards (FW): Matheus Silva (Brazil), Azizbek Sultonov, Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov, Bakhtiyor Zaripov

Mohun Bagan

Goalkeepers (GK): Vishal Kaith, Dheeraj Singh, Syed Zahid Hussain Bukhari, Arsh Anwer Shaikh

Defenders (DF): Sumit Rathi, Raj Basfore, Tom Aldred (Scotland), Subhasish Bose (Captain), Alberto Rodríguez (Spain), Dippendu Biswas, Asish Rai, Nuno Reis (Portugal), Ravi Bahadur Rana

Midfielders (MF): Anirudh Thapa, Ningomba Engson Singh, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Sahal Abdul Samad, Deepak Tangri, Glan Martins, Amandeep Vrish Bhan, Lalengmawia Ralte, Taison Singh Loitongbam

Forwards (FW): Dimitri Petratos (Australia), Greg Stewart (Scotland), Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Md. Fardin Ali Molla, Jamie Maclaren (Australia), Jason Cummings (Australia), Suhail Bhat