Mohun Bagan Super Giant travel to Guwahati on Sunday with a chance to move top of the Indian Super League table, while hosts NorthEast United FC — stuck in the bottom three — will fight for a morale-boosting home win at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. The match carries extra weight after leaders Mumbai City FC were beaten by FC Goa on Saturday, meaning a Bagan victory would see them leapfrog to first.
NorthEast coach Juan Pedro Benali played down expectations at a pre-match press interaction in Guwahati on Saturday, drawing a contrast with his close friend and rival Sergio Lobera. “My pressure is different from the pressure Sergio has this season,” Benali said, adding: “What do we have to lose? It is a game of 11 against 11. We know Mohun Bagan is one of the strongest teams in the league, but I have confidence in my players. We have absolutely no pressure, and we are ready to compete.”
Mohun Bagan arrive on the back of a 3-2 home win over Punjab FC and remain firmly on course in the race for the League Shield. Speaking in Kolkata, Lobera underlined the club’s ambitions: “With five games remaining, we are in a position to fight for our target, which is to win the trophy. We are not under pressure; we are excited by the opportunity to get three very important points against NorthEast United.”
Form and injuries complicate the picture. NorthEast were held away by Kerala Blasters in their last outing and had lost two previous home matches, while Benali confirmed skipper Michel Zabaco is effectively out for the season. “Zabaco is out for the season. The doctors are working very hard; he’s working very hard on recovery. But in the end, with less than four weeks to go, he is on the edge. Maybe he can play the last two or three games, but he’s not sure,” Benali said. Bagan will also be without defenders Asish Rai and Lalengmawia Ralte.
Benali will look to summer signings Alaaeddine Ajaraie, Jairo Samperio, Lalrinzuala and Lalbiakdiaka to bolster the attack, supported by India U-23 internationals Parthib Gogoi and Thoi Singh and Ankith Padmanabhan. Defensively, the Highlanders must tighten up if they hope to blunt a dangerous Bagan front line that includes Jamie Maclaren, Jason Cummings, Dimitri Petratos and Liston Colaco. NorthEast will need a marked improvement if they are to give their home fans something to celebrate.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/mohun-bagan-aim-for-isl-lead-as-northeast-united-fc-face-pressure-free-challenge/articleshow/130360575.cms
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-18 23:59:00
