East Bengal will look to end Mohun Bagan’s recent supremacy when the two arch-rivals clash in the Durand Cup 2025 quarterfinal on Sunday. The much-anticipated Kolkata Derby has been the highlight of the tournament, though this year’s quarterfinal draw sparked controversy after an initial fixture list, which showed different matchups, was briefly posted and later deleted. The Durand Cup organizing committee ultimately confirmed the marquee clash between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in Kolkata, alongside Jamshedpur FC vs Diamond Harbour FC, Shillong Lajong vs Indian Navy, and NorthEast United vs Bodoland FC.

Mohun Bagan have dominated East Bengal at the top level, winning four consecutive encounters and maintaining an unbeaten record in the Indian Super League (ISL) with nine wins in 10 meetings. Their last defeat to East Bengal at the top tier came in January 2024 during the Super Cup. In the Durand Cup, the Mariners beat East Bengal 1-0 in last year’s final, though East Bengal edged them in the group stage of the same edition. However, East Bengal did claim bragging rights last month in the Calcutta Football League with a 3-2 victory, albeit with developmental squads.

Ahead of Sunday’s clash, both sides have held back key players from national duty. Mohun Bagan’s squad includes stars like Anirudh Thapa, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, Apuia, and Jason Cummings, while East Bengal rely on Jeakson Singh, Anwar Ali, and Naorem Mahesh Singh. East Bengal suffered a setback with Palestinian midfielder Mohammed Rashid missing out due to a family emergency, leaving Miguel Ferreira and Hamid Yahdad to control the midfield. Yahdad has impressed with goals in back-to-back games, while Bipin Singh has also delivered strong performances.

Both teams have advanced convincingly from the group stage, scoring 12 goals each. Mohun Bagan boast a formidable attack featuring Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren, while Colaco is joint top-scorer of the tournament with five goals. East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzón remains confident, calling the derby “a game of emotions and passion” and emphasizing that only performance on the pitch matters. With bragging rights and a semifinal spot at stake, the stage is set for an electrifying contest between two giants of Indian football.