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East Bengal Seeks Redemption in ISL Opener
18 Oct
Summary
- Churchill Brothers aim for a second win after beating Mumbai City FC.
- East Bengal seeks to recover from an AFC Champions League loss.
- This marks the first ISL meeting between the two historic clubs.
Churchill Brothers SC Goa will host East Bengal FC on Sunday, October 18, for their Indian Super League 2026-27 season opener. Churchill Brothers are aiming to build on their successful ISL debut, where they defeated Mumbai City FC 2-1 thanks to goals from Gaurav Bora and Sebastián Gutiérrez. Head coach Dimitris Dimitriou acknowledged the win but stressed the need for further improvement.
East Bengal faces a challenging start as they aim to overcome a recent 3-2 defeat against Iraq's Al-Shorta in the AFC Champions League Two. Coach Antonio López Habas expressed respect for Churchill Brothers but emphasized his team's focus on securing three points. The team features several new signings, including goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa and forwards Ake Loba and Łukasz Zwoliński, who are expected to integrate quickly.
This match holds historical significance as it is the first ISL meeting between these two clubs, who have a long-standing rivalry in Indian football. It also features Provat Lakra facing his former team, East Bengal, after his move to Churchill Brothers. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on Sony LIV and the Sony Sports network.
