Table of Contents
The 135th Durand Cup opens with the Kolkata Derby. Mohun Bagan Super Giant, 17-time champions, face East Bengal FC, 16-time champions, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on July 25. This is the oldest football rivalry in Asia, and it kicks off India’s entire football season.
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal: Match Details
Match: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs East Bengal FC, Group A, Durand Cup 2026
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Time: 5.00 PM IST
Venue: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
TV: Star Sports Network
Why This Rivalry Matters
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have played each other 406 times since their first official meeting in 1925. East Bengal lead the all-time record with 144 wins to Mohun Bagan’s 134, with 128 draws. But the picture flips completely in the ISL era. Since the two clubs joined the Indian Super League, Mohun Bagan have won 9 of their meetings, drawn 2, and lost none. Their most recent ISL meeting, on May 17, 2026, ended 1-1.
Cup competitions have told a different story lately. In last year’s Durand Cup, East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the quarter-final, ending Mohun Bagan’s campaign early. That result is fresh in both camps heading into this opener.
Mohun Bagan: A Squad Rebuilt After Losing The ISL Title
East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan to last season’s ISL title, and Mohun Bagan have responded with the busiest transfer window of any club in India this summer. New arrivals include Lallianzuala Chhangte from Mumbai City FC, Dejan Drazic, Samir Zeljkovic, Rahul Bheke and Alex Saji. Two of the signings came directly from East Bengal: Miguel Figueira, who was East Bengal’s best player last season, and young midfielder Sayan Banerjee.
The club has also changed head coach. Panagiotis Dilmperis takes over after Sergio Lobera left. This is Dilmperis’s first tournament in charge, and he will use the Durand Cup both to prepare the squad for the season and to see how his new signings fit together.
Rahul Bheke’s return to Kolkata carries an extra edge. He played for East Bengal before this move and now faces his old club in his first game for Mohun Bagan.
East Bengal: New Coach, Same Ambition
East Bengal arrive as reigning ISL champions. Oscar Bruzon has left as head coach, and the club has brought in Antonio Lopez Habas, one of the most experienced coaches in Indian football and a manager who has previously worked with both Kolkata clubs. New signings for this season include Danish Farooq and Boris Singh.
Habas takes charge of a squad that already has a title-winning core, and this derby is his first real test in front of East Bengal’s fans since taking the job.
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal Head-to-Head: Last Five Meetings
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 17 May 2026 | Mohun Bagan 1-1 East Bengal |
| 11 January 2025 | Mohun Bagan 1-0 East Bengal |
| 19 October 2024 | East Bengal 0-2 Mohun Bagan |
| 10 March 2024 | East Bengal 1-3 Mohun Bagan |
| 3 February 2024 | Mohun Bagan 2-2 East Bengal |
Team News
Both clubs are expected to field close to full-strength squads given the size of the occasion, though neither side had confirmed a starting line-up at the time of writing. Mohun Bagan’s new overseas signings are all available for selection, and it remains to be seen how many of them coach Panagiotis Dilmperis starts in his first competitive match in charge. East Bengal are expected to give Antonio Habas his first look at the club’s title-winning core against top-level opposition.
Key Things To Watch
Rahul Bheke vs his old club. Bheke spent time at East Bengal before this summer’s move to Mohun Bagan. His return to Kolkata as an opponent adds a personal storyline to an already massive fixture.
Miguel Figueira and Sayan Banerjee facing East Bengal. Both players were signed away from East Bengal this summer. How East Bengal’s fans and players respond to seeing them in green and maroon will be one of the sub-plots of the day.
New coaches, same pressure. Panagiotis Dilmperis and Antonio Habas are both new to their jobs. Neither wants to start with a defeat in a match this big, in front of a crowd this passionate.
Also Read- Durand Cup 2026: Full History, All-Time Winners List And Transfer News
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal Match Prediction
Mohun Bagan’s dominant ISL record against East Bengal and their heavy summer spending make them favourites on paper. East Bengal counter with the psychological boost of being reigning champions and a coach in Habas who knows how to win matches at both Kolkata clubs. Cup form has favoured East Bengal recently, having knocked Mohun Bagan out of last year’s Durand Cup. Given how early this is in the season for both new coaches, a tight, cagey draw is a real possibility, but Mohun Bagan’s squad depth gives them a narrow edge to win the opener.
FAQs
Q. When is the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal Durand Cup match?
A. Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 5.00 PM IST, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
Q. Where can I watch the match?
A. Live on the Star Sports Network.
Q. Who has won more matches between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?
A. East Bengal lead the all-time head to head 144 wins to 134, but Mohun Bagan have not lost to East Bengal in the ISL, winning 9 and drawing 2 of their meetings in that competition.
Q. Who won when these two teams last met in the Durand Cup?
A. East Bengal won 2-1 in last year’s quarter-final, eliminating Mohun Bagan from the 2025 tournament.
Q. Who are the head coaches for this match?
A. Panagiotis Dilmperis for Mohun Bagan and Antonio Lopez Habas for East Bengal, both new appointments this season.