Starting the 2023 Durand Cup in an emphatic fashion, Mohun Bagan Super Giants now look to make it back-to-back wins in the tournament against I-League winners Punjab FC.
MBSG vs PUN Match Details
Date: Monday, 07 August 2023
Time: 18:00 (IST)
Venue: Kishore Bharati Stadium, Kolkata
MBSG vs PUN Match Preview
Mohun Bagan produced a pulsating performance in the tournament curtain raiser of the Durand Cup by thrashing Bangladesh Army 5-0. Apart from a decent opportunity created from the kick-off, the invited club struggled to match the intensity, pace, skill and precision of the Mariners. They failed to restrict Liston Colaco from opening the scoring or his fancy footwork that led to Suhail’s audacious chip over the keeper. Before that, Manvir Singh converted from the penalty spot that Lalrinliana Hnamte won to go three goals up in the opening period. After the break, the midfielder got himself on the scoresheet and substitute Kiyan Nassiri tucked Colaco’s pass into the net to complete the scoring. With the team carrying sensational momentum and yet to suffer defeat for over a month in all competitions, the Green and Maroons will hope to put themselves in a pole position for the knockouts with three more points. Consecutive victories will also prepare the ISL champions well before the highly anticipated Kolkata Derby with arch-rivals East Bengal in the third match.
However, Punjab FC should not be taken lightly after earning the winning medal in the I-League in emphatic fashion. The team finished 10 pts clear at the top and won 16 of the 22 available league games. As a result, they will play in the Indian Super League or ISL next season after the promotion system came into place for the first time. Their Hero Super Cup campaign though did not fall on the same line as they finished bottom of the group containing ISL recipients Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters and fellow I-League runners-up Sreenidi Deccan. However, that cannot overshadow the quality Punjab FC possess and will bring to the pitch. The North Indian club will face the two Kolkata giants in their group and Bangladesh Army starting with the difficult matchup against the ISL champions. In total, Punjab FC have taken on Mohun Bagan a total of eight times back when both played in the I-League. They have never managed to beat them, drawing only twice, the record making it even harder to face them on home soil.
MSC vs MCFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Chemjong (7)
DEF: A Rai (7), Devrani (7.5), Bose (8)
MID: Augustine (8.5), Brandon (8.5), Hnamte (8), Boumous (7.5)
FW: Mera (9), Majcen (9), Colaco (6.5)
Vice-captain: Hugo Boumous
Captain: Liston Colaco
