I-League: Round 4 Preview – Super Midweek finally sees East Bengal in action

Overview

Title favourites East Bengal start their campaign against Shillong Lajong tomorrow

AFC Cup semi-finalists East Bengal finally start their campaign in an action-packed round four of the Airtel I-League this midweek. This matchday promises to be an absolute treat for Indian football fans as four of the six matches will be televised LIVE and perhaps it’s the perfect opportunity to attract new fans also as none of the big European clubs will be in action due to the international break.

East Bengal have been making India proud in the AFC Cup but to be frank, Brazilian coach Marcos Falopa will be judged in the I-League as it is the trophy that the fans and club officials crave for the most. On paper, the red-and-gold brigade have by far the best squad in the league and thus are favourites to win their first title since 2004 but they have a tricky start as they face Lajong in the high altitude of Shillong tomorrow.

Falopa has taken a sensible yet bold decision to rest some key players like Mehtab Hossain, Arnab Mondal as the Brazilian feels that they run the risk of getting burned out ahead of the AFC Cup semi-final second leg against Kuwait SC on October 22. Anything less than a win against Lajong will raise further question marks about the 64-year-old’s squad selection and put him under real pressure. East Bengal also have history against them as they have never won in Shillong with one draw and two defeats in their previous three visits.

Another team that is desperate for a win in Shillong is defending champions Churchill Brothers who take on debutants Rangdajied United. Both clubs have just one point after three rounds with the I-League holders also yet to score in this campaign. Rangdajied’s survival depends heavily on their home form so they would look to cause an upset and pile the pressure on Churchill Brothers technical director Sukhwinder Singh.

Those two games in Shillong are the only two non-televised fixtures of this round. Otherwise the fans can look forward to a double header both on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday’s telecast kicks off with a mouthwatering Goan derby between second-placed Salgaocar and winless Dempo. It is followed by a clash in Pune where unbeaten Mumbai FC host third-placed United Sports Club.

Thursday’s early televised match sees league leaders Bengaluru FC play their fourth straight home game against Mohammedan Sporting, who lost their first two fixtures. There is no comparison in the history between I-League’s newest club Bengaluru and 122-year-old Mohammedan Sporting but the present tells a completely different story as the JSW-owned club tops the table while the Kolkata giants are rock-bottom. A third straight defeat in their first top-flight season in four years will not go down well with the ever demanding club officials and fanbase of Mohammedan Sporting so coach Moshood Bola Abdulaziz must deliver a positive result.

The round concludes with two unbeaten teams going head-to-head in Pune as Pune FC entertain Mohun Bagan. But the word ‘unbeaten’ is slightly flattering for Mohun Bagan as they drew their first two games. Although both stalemates were achieved away from home, it is still not good enough for the green-and-maroon brigade as they have title aspirations and the success of their arch-rivals East Bengal in the AFC Cup has only increased the pressure on coach Karim Bencherifa. Pune’s new-look side under Mike Snoei impressed in their opening two fixtures and they will be looking to build on that in their first home game of the season.

So just when you football fans thought that boredom would set in due to the international break, there are four LIVE I-League games to look forward to in midweek. Don’t miss out.

Fixtures

Wednesday: Shillong Lajong vs East Bengal (15:30); Salgaocar vs Dempo (15:30, LIVE on Ten Action); Mumbai FC vs United Sports Club (19:00, LIVE on Ten Action)

Thursday: Rangdajied United vs Churchill Brothers (15:30); Bengaluru FC vs Mohammedan Sporting (16:00, LIVE on Ten Action); Pune FC vs Mohun Bagan (19:00, LIVE on Ten Action)