East Bengal FC come to this match after a commanding 3-0 victory over NorthEast United FC in their season opener at the same venue. Youssef Ezzejjari struck twice and Miguel Ferreira scored the other to seal the win for the Red and Gold Brigade.
Speaking ahead of the match, East Bengal FC head coach Óscar Bruzón said, “SC Delhi are not an unknown side for us. They have a clear playing identity, a coach who believes in possession football and building from the back, and a group of young, energetic players who will come here looking for their first points. We expect a tough game. In a shorter duration league, mistakes are costly, so our focus is to go game by game and keep improving. If we can sustain our performance level, I believe we are in a good position to get the result we want.”
East Bengal FC midfielder Jeakson Singh added, “We know every match is important. We have prepared for a long time, and we are ready to give everything on the pitch this season. The fans were amazing in the last match, and we hope they come in big numbers again. We will give our 100 per cent to make them proud.”
SC Delhi, meanwhile, went down 0-2 to Bengaluru FC on Sunday. They will look to respond with greater defensive solidity and attacking cohesion against a confident East Bengal.
Speaking ahead of the game, SC Delhi head coach Tomasz Tchórz said, “East Bengal are one of the strongest and most organised teams in the league, with experienced Indian players, quality foreigners and a coach who has achieved success in India and Asia. For us, this is not only a big challenge, but also a massive opportunity.
“The players showed that we can compete at this level, even if the result did not go our way (against Bengaluru),” said SC Delhi head coach. “Now we must improve our focus in crucial moments and be more clinical with our chances. We travel to Kolkata with belief, ambition, and the clear objective of fighting for three points.”
SC Delhi defender Manoj Mohammed said, “Scoring is important for the team, no matter who gets the goal. What matters most is that we perform well collectively and take our chances. I’ve played in Kolkata before, including big matches like the derby. The atmosphere there is intense, and performing well feels very good.”
The hosts will look to build on their attacking momentum and make early inroads, while SC Delhi aim to remain compact and capitalise on transitions. With confidence high in the East Bengal FC camp and resolve evident within SC Delhi, the early kick-off promises an engaging contest in Kolkata.
