ATK Mohun Bagan has more at stake when they play East Bengal in an ISL IX Derby at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

Bagan, at one stage, were in contention for a top-two finish but a series of inconsistent performances have let them down. They are now third in the 11-team league with 31 points from 19 matches. Victory over their arch-rivals will ensure a top-three finish.

East Bengal, on the other hand, have struggled throughout, though a tally of 19 points from as many matches is their best finish in three seasons in the top flight.

“If we had converted all the chances we created this season then the scenario would have been much different,” ATK Mohun Bagan captain Pritam Kotal said at the prematch news conference at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. “I guess barring Mumbai City and Hyderabad FC, all the teams struggled with consistency,” agreed ATK Mohun Bagan coach Juan Ferrando.

ATK Mohun Bagan have not lost a Derby in more than three years. The two rivals have squared off seven times, including the I-League clash in January 2020 when Mohun Bagan didn’t have ATK as the prefix.

Kotal has donned the captain’s armband in all six Derby clashes post-merger. On Saturday, he will partner Slavko Damjanovic since Brendan Hamill is out due to suspension.

Ferrando said Hugo Boumous and Carl McHugh would also miss the game. “McHugh picked up an injury against Kerala Blasters,” the Spaniard said.

East Bengal coach Stephen Constantine will be banking on Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva, the highest scorer so far in the league with 12 goals.