ATK Mohun Bagan will be glued to the television sets and mobile phones from 4.30pm onwards on Tuesday.

Reason? Gokulam Kerala FC will take on Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh in the first match of the AFC Cup Group D at the Salt Lake Stadium.

A victory for the I-League champions will see them through to the inter-zonal semi-finals and make the game between ATK Mohun Bagan and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club of the Maldives inconsequential.

Bagan coach Juan Ferrando and his men will be praying that Bashundhara Kings do what Maziya did on Saturday against Gokulam. Even if they can’t beat, ATK Mohun Bagan will be hoping Kings hold the Kerala outfit at least. And then a victory will be enough for ATK Mohun Bagan to advance. That match starts at 8.30pm at the same venue.

Tuesday’s matches have become all the more intriguing with all the four teams on three points each from two matches. If all the teams share points in their respective matches, then goal difference would be the deciding factor. If two teams end on the same points, the head-to-head record would come into play. So if Gokulam, who beat ATK Mohun Bagan 4-2 last week, win, its curtains for the expensively assembled ATK Mohun Bagan side.

Bashundhara can go forward if they bag full points and Maziya don’t lose to ATK Mohun Bagan. Maziya can qualify if they win and Gokulam log full points.

If both matches end in a draw, all the teams will have four points each. The home team will qualify by virtue of a superior goal difference.

ATK Mohun Bagan coach Ferrando though is not thinking about the complex permutation and combination too much. He just wants to win the tie against Maziya. “Our target remains three points,” Ferrando said on match-eve.