The Kolkata Derby, known locally as the Boro Match or the Big Match, where the two behamouths of Indian football, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal collide is more than just a football fixture; it is a cultural phenomenon that has spanned over a century. The legacy and the hype around the battle took another turn when the Indian Super League (ISL) welcomed this historic rivalry into its fold during the 2020-21 season, signalling a new era for Indian football. While the rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal FC dates back to 1921, the ISL chapter has already produced moments of high drama, tactical masterclasses, and individual brilliance. The history of the derby in the ISL is still young, but it has already inherited the passion, the heartbreak, and the glory that has defined Kolkata for over a century. Whether it’s a wonder goal from a youngster or a tactical masterclass from a seasoned coach, the derby remains the heartbeat of Indian football.
The fixture has been massively tilted towards one side towards Mohun Bagan since the pair joined the league and also in years before with the Mariners heavily dominating with nine wins from the ten derbies played so far in the competition. The Red and Gold, unable to match the financial strength of their rivals and suffering from their own administrative issue, has managed just one draw. However, that has not taken away the charm of the fixture and the anxiety both supporters face throughout the 90 minutes. The ISL Kolkata Derby has consistently shattered attendance records. Even in seasons where one team struggled in the table, the derby remained the highest-attended match of the league. The sheer scale of the rivalry, the tifo wars, the coordinated chants, and the post-match celebrations has provided the ISL with its most "European-style" atmosphere, proving that the roots of Indian football remain firmly planted in the soil of West Bengal.
The rivalry now reaches a new boiling point in the 2025-26 season as after a long time the Kolkata derby will potentially decide the league winner with both engaged in a direct fight for the ISL Shield. Mohun Bagan is currently vying for a record extending third straight honor, while East Bengal has shown remarkable improvement, becoming contenders for the Shield for the first time. Both sides currently sit on the same points with East Bengal leading the table on goal difference with Mohun Bagan right behind them sitting second. Hence, this derby could be the first time in ISL history that the league title itself is effectively decided by this iconic fixture. The much anticipated Kolkata derby will write another chapter on May 17, 2026, at the Salt Lake Stadium. So it is almost the right time to look at some of of the top moments the rivalry has offered since it's historical integration into the ISL seven years ago.
The Inaugural ISL Derby (November 27, 2020)
When history was made with the first Kolkata derby in ISL, the situation was not ideal. First of all, the iconic derby was not being played in the city, probably for the first time, but far away in Goa after it was chosen as the centralised venue for the competition due to the pandemic back in 2020. Secondly, the match was played behind closed doors at the Tilak Maidan due to the situation lacking the roar of 100,000 plus passionate fans. However, the intensity on the pitch was palpable. Mohun Bagan, coming off as I-League winners and entering in a joint venture with KGSPL ownership who used to own the now defunct ATK, entered the ISL using the name ATK Mohun Bagan while their rivals faced an East Bengal side that had joined the league at the eleventh hour but with pertaining ownership issue and a disjointed squad.
However, when the occasion arrived, all the off-field noise was silenced at least for 90 minutes as a spectacular beginning to the Kolkata derby chapter in ISL was expected. The Mariners asserted their dominance early, having the set champions squad of the previous ATK team with the addition of new talents and under the tutelage of expert coach Antonio Habas, claiming a memorable 2-0 win. It was fitting that Fijian marksman and an ISL superstar, Roy Krishna scored the first-ever ISL derby goal and he did so with a clinical strike right at the start of the second half after it remained goalless in the first half. East Bengal, played as SC East Bengal back then, were completely overwhelmed by their rivals and they were put out of their misery when Manvir Singh added a spectacular solo effort by making a dashing run on the right, cutting in and scoring with an outrageous curler to seal the win. It was a statement of intent that set the tone for Mohun Bagan’s early dominance in the league.
The Kiyan Nassiri Hat-Trick (January 29, 2022)
The fourth Kolkata derby on the ISL stage produced one of the greatest individual performances the fixture has ever witnessed. A relatively unknown player but carrying the lineage of a great player crafted a tale that will leave long in the memories of both set of fans for different reasons. It is the 'magic' of the derby ISL desperately needed in the one-off battle that has become the habit now. Mohun Bagan was coming into this fixture with three straight derby wins in this league and looking to add another triumph now in the era of Juan Ferrando. However, East Bengal were looking to finally end their blank in this battle and determined to put a strong fight. Their efforts bore fruit when they took the lead for the first time in ISL Kolkata derby through Darren Sidoel in the 56th minute giving the Red and Gold fans a rare joyous moment. Mohun Bagan was running out of time to keep their record intact and needed a moment of inspiration. Something they got from an unexpected source, a then 17-year-old Kiyan Nassiri, son of East Bengal legend Jamshid Nassiri, coming off the bench on the hour mark with his team trailing 1-0 and turning the game on its head completely.
Within just two minutes of bringing on to the pitch, the winger pounced on a loose in the opposition box to smash in the equaliser. It was just the start of a special evening as the game opened up after that with both sides coming close to score but Mohun Bagan increased the pressure later on. In the opening minute of stoppage time, Liston Colaco's cross from the left was headed on to the post by David Williams but it ricocheted towards Kiyan who struck on the volley into the empty net for a sensational winner. However he was not done yet as only moments later Manvir Singh went on his trademark mazy run and while he was stopped in his track, there was Kiyan to end the move with another beautifully struck volley to claim a sensational 3-1 comeback win. He became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the history of the Kolkata Derby. The irony of a son of an East Bengal icon destroying the Red and Gold brigade is a narrative that will be told for decades. The only disappointment was there was no crowd to witness a historical performance play out.
The Return to the Salt Lake Stadium (October 29, 2022)
However, ISL didn't had to wait long to get the fans back into the stands as after two seasons played in the Goa bubble and in the latter half of 2022, Kolkata the derby finally returned to its spiritual home, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan or the Salt Lake Stadium and most importantly, infront of a 62,000 packed crowd. Although this wasn't the first derby back from closed doors as the Durand Cup before the season witnessed the pair drawn into the same group with the stadium into a cauldron of green-and-maroon and red-and-yellow, the anticipation and hype of the league clash was different. The match itself was a tactical battle, but the emotional weight of the fans returning made every tackle feel like a goal. Both teams also changed up a bit but the dominance in this fixture remained the same for one side.
Mohun Bagan had the last laugh once again but their rivals East Bengal made it a very tight battle with their problematic counters. They even tested Bagan keeper Vishal Kaith earlier on in the affair but the Mariners slowly took the grip of things. Liston Colaco and Hugo Boumous caused a series of issues in the Red and Gold defence with the French Moroccan almost single handedly taking control of proceedings. It was him that helped to break the deadlock in the 55th minute when his rifling strike became too hot for the opposition keeper to handle. Ten minutes later Bagan were able to secure the victory with Manvir scoring the second with the help of a deflection. However, the fans were the real winners as this wasn't just any other Kolkata derby but a reclamation of their footballing heritage after the long isolation of the pandemic.
The four goals thriller (February 3, 2024)
So far, Mohun Bagan has tasted repeated success in the Kolkata derby and left East Bengal fans in agony of suffering through endless losses. However, in the 2023-24 season, the tide began to turn towards Red and Gold, at least briefly, when coach Carles Cuadrat took charge of the office. He already reignited the core of the rivalry after defeating Mohun Bagan in the 2023 Durand Cup, the first time East Bengal has downed their rivals ship in ISL era but then tasted the bitter defeat in the final when the two faced each other once again. However, they beat them again in the Super Cup on course of lifting the trophy and ending their title drought. Now determined to end their dismay in the Kolkata derby in the ISL, they entered February 2024 derby, the first league meeting of that season, in high hopes. On the other hand, the Mariners, now playing as Mohun Bagan Super Giant were suffering from a rough patch transitioning from Juan Ferrando to Antonio Habas again and needed a win to stabilise things. All of it produce the ingredients of this clash became the most entertaining 'Boro Match' in ISL history with a late drama.
East Bengal took an early lead after a high voltage start through an unlikely source, Ajay Chettri who ghosted behind Brendan Hamill to convert his header. Mohun Bagan fans were stunned as it was an unfamiliar scene for them but their were not rocked by it as Armando Sadiku’s brilliant in 17 minutes brought everything square. However, the momentum seemed to be always in the Red and Gold favour as they retook the lead with another blistering start to the second half. Inspirational captain Cleiton Silva won a spot kick and then dispatched it with the scenes in the stadium suggesting that it is finally East Bengal's time. But the Kolkata derby is as unpredictable as it gets as there was one last twist. Just when the Torch-Bearers were dreaming of their first ISL derby win with clock ticking down, their arch nemesis Dimitri Petratos returned to haunt them with a thumping leveller from close range in the 87th-minute equaliser to maintain the unbeaten Kolkata derby league run for the Mariners. East Bengal were heartbroken as they needed more than this but took the pride in snapping their rivals undisputed winning streak in the competition.
A game of two halves (March 10 2024)
The two met just a month later, producing another incredible display. The narrative shifted once again with Mohun Bagan now redeeming themselves and were now an unstoppable locomotive under Habas while East Bengal's motivation and energy from winning the Super Cup slowly starting to fade away. Salt Lake Stadium was poised for another thriller with a spectacular, full-throttle first-half setting the tone. The Mariners score three times in quick succession in a blitz that East Bengal did not saw coming but not before they produced a sweaty moment for their rivals. The Torch Bearers had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 12th minute when opposition shot stopper Kaith committed a reckless foul by clattering into Cleiton Silva inside the penalty area. However, Kaith immediately redeemed himself by diving low to his right to brilliantly punch away Silva's spot-kick. That gave a wake up call for the Mariners who then unleashed a fury and .
It was Dimitri Petratos again that shined against his favourite opponent with his stinging long range effort that was parried away by East Bengal custodian Prabhsukhan Gill. However, it felt kindly to an alert Jason Cummings tapped home the rebound to make it 1-0 on the hour mark. The Australian was making things happen again as he remained at the center of the offense, striking a shot off the framework. The loose ball landed perfectly for Liston Colaco to slam it into an open net. Then he got the goal he was looking for right before the halftime whistle, when Nandhakumar Sekar fouled Colaco inside the box, earning a penalty. The talisman stepped up to convert the penalty, burying a powerful shot straight down the middle to give Mohun Bagan a massive 3-0 cushion. However, Carles Cuadrat’s Red & Gold Brigade fought back with improved intent and structure after the interval.
Although not before they escaped a scare of going further down with a clear foul on Cummings inside the box was not given. Captain Silva, looking to redeem his earlier penalty miss, floated a precise long ball to find Saul Crespo, who chested it down and scored a spectacular volley. That energised the Red and Gold fans as they increase their noise level to rally the side. A sense of comeback began to grew but Mohun Bagan regrouped defensively and used physical mid block tactics to stifle any attempts with a comfortable lead in store. But East Bengal kept banging the door and almost pulled another back if not for a stunning save by Kaith denying Silva again. The Mariners safely see out the 3-1 victory but a late penalty appeal for a foul on PV Vishnu was not given controversially as the Red and Gold were left disappointed again with the Green and Maroon triumph again on the arch rivals and to rub the wound went on to clinch their first ISL Shield title.
