KOLKATA: The Indian Super League returns to action next week after India’s disappointing AFC Asian Cup show with Mohun Bagan SG scheduled to host East Bengal FC in the first-leg derby at the Salt Lake Stadium on February 3.
According to the fixtures released by ISL, the return-leg Kolkata derby will take place on March 10.
The February 3 derby has assumed significance since it will be new coach Antonio Lopez Habas’s first match in charge of the green-and-maroon brigade. The veteran Spaniard — who replaced Juan Ferrando earlier this month — did join the team ahead of the Super Cup derby in Bhubaneswar but assistant coach Clifford Miranda managed the team.
East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan 3-1 in that match, which helped Carles Cuadrat’s team storm into the Super Cup semifinals as Group A winners with a perfect record.
East Bengal thereafter rode goals from Hijazi Maher and Javier Siverio to beat Jamshedpur FC 2-0 in the semifinals and advanced to the summit clash.
East Bengal are leading 2-1 against the arch-rivals in their three meetings across various tournaments so far in this season.
Habas has managed the Kolkata side on three occasions — with the team known as differently — before his current assignment.
After the February 3 derby, Mohun Bagan will host Hyderabad FC on Feb. 10 while East Bengal will play NorthEast United FC away in Guwahati on the same day.
Mohun Bagan are fifth on the ISL standings with 19 points from 10 matches while East Bengal are eighth with 11 points.
The ISL will take another break from March 15 to March 29 because of India’s engagements in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
