East Bengal have two consecutive wins in the ongoing ISL-XI, but to record a hat-trick of victories — for the first time since they joined the league in 2020-21 — on Thursday at the Salt Lake Stadium, they need to beat a team the red and gold brigade finds difficult to deal with.
Even though the Super Cup final victory against Odisha FC earlier this year gave East Bengal their first major trophy since September 2012, the visitors have an enviable head-to-head record versus their famed rivals. In the 11 matches played since 2021, Odisha have won seven times, East Bengal twice, and two ended in a draw.
The latest setback for East Bengal came in the first leg in Bhubaneswar on October 22. However, those were the early days of Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon with the likes of Naorem Mahesh Singhs, Anwar Alis and Madih Talals.
“Now we are in a better shape and we have a clear idea what the coach wants from us. We will give our best,” Mahesh said at the pre-match news conference on Wednesday.
East Bengal will have to fight tooth and nail to give their best. That’s because they will be missing some of their key players. Midfielder Saul Crespo and in-form forward Dimitrios Diamantakos are ruled out for the match. Winger Nandhakumar Sekar and side-back Prabhat Lakra look doubtful. Central defender Hector Yuste, who missed the Chennaiyin FC match last week due to injury, may not start. He is expected to be in the 18-man squad.
“I have confidence in my players and I am sure those who get the chance tomorrow will deliver,” Bruzon said.
Odisha, whose star striker Roy Krishna is ruled out for season after suffering a knee injury, have already scored 23 goals in 11 matches. That does not bother Bruzon though. “Northeast United came here (Salt Lake Stadium) scoring goals at will but we stopped them,” he said. East Bengal who were initially leaking in goals under Carles Cuadrat, have a settled defence now and logged three consecutive clean sheets.
East Bengal have seven points from nine matches, while Serio Lobera’s men stand at fifth position with 16 points from 11 games.
