ISL Cup Final: Mohun Bagan vs. Bengaluru FC Set for Cup Showdown
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Mohun Bagan Aim For Historic ISL Double
The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata will burst into life this weekend, when Mohun Bagan step out in front of their home fans looking to secure their first-ever ISL double after narrowly missing out on achieving the remarkable feat last season.
It has been an incredible season for the Mariners and head coach Jose Molina, who guided ATK to this title back in 2016, and he is now set to lead MBSG into battle in the grand finale in just his first season back with the club.
After winning 17 of 24 league games this season, Molina’s win rate in the Indian top flight now stands at 53.5% - the third-best conversion in the history of the league, only behind Albert Roca (66.7%) and Des Buckingham (57.4%), among coaches that have taken charge in 10+ games.
MBSG secured their spot in the final with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Jamshedpur in the second leg of their semi-final clash, where Lalengmawia Ralte netted a 94th-minute winner to help the side overturn a 2-1 defeat from the first leg.
Despite being head-and-shoulders the best team in the league this season, Molina has avoided admitting that his side is the favourite in the contest. In an interview this week, the Spaniard said:
“I think in the finals, nobody is a favourite. Anything can happen. Of course we believe in ourselves. We trust in ourselves and in what we are doing. We think that if we are at our best, we are going to get the trophy.”
Still, while Molina may be erring on the side of caution with his confidence, bookmakers are much more bullish and have installed the Mariners as massive favourites in this contest according to the latest Indian Super League betting odds.
Bengaluru FC Out For Revenge in ISL Final
For Bengaluru FC, this final is about more than just victory - it is a chance for them to exact revenge for the heartbreaking disappointment they suffered in Goa two seasons ago when they were beaten by this opponent in this very fixture.
The Blues finished in third place in the regular season and defied the odds to earn their spot in this grand spectacle, beating the fancied FC Goa 3-2 on aggregate in a thrilling semi-final, which also came down to the final moments of the match.
The hero of the piece was none other than the evergreen Sunil Chhetri, who netted a stunning diving header in stoppage time in the second leg against the Gaurs. While the Blues lost the match 2-1, Chhetri’s strike proved decisive after his team won the first leg 2-0 at home.
Under the guidance of Gerard Zaragoza, Bengaluru have turned into one of the most potent attacking units in the Indian top flight. Over the course of the season, they have scored 44 goals from inside the box - the most of any team in the division this term.
Additionally, they have created 51 big chances this season, which is their highest tally in a single ISL campaign, and that attacking prowess will be needed here against an MBSG outfit that has not conceded a goal on home soil in 2025 (seven consecutive clean sheets).
In contrast to his counterpart, Zaragoza oozed confidence in his side’s chances during his pre-match press conference, saying:
“We have Sunil Chhetri, these amazing foreigners, this amazing defensive Indian line, and the best goalkeeper in India. We are BFC. We need to remember that we have been in ISL, and we have played four finals - that says a lot!”
The excitement is building for what should be an incredible battle between two of the best teams in the Indian top flight this weekend, and we will be covering every moment of the action via our Indian Super League livescore tool.
