Football
Mohun Bagan gear up for AFC Champions League Two clash against FC Ravshan
Anything less that a victory will frustrate Mohun Bagan.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will look to take a step forward in the AFC Champions League Two 2024-25 after beginning their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 campaign last week with a draw.
The Kolkata club will face Tajikistan's FC Ravshan in their opening Group A clash at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday.
For Mohun Bagan, the aim will be to kickstart their AFC Champions League Two campaign, previously known as the AFC Cup, with a victory.
The Mariners have been winless in their last two matches. They lost the Durand Cup final to NorthEast United and were held to a draw by Mumbai City FC in their ISL opener.
Returning to their home turf, the Salt Lake Stadium, Jose Molina's squad will be determined to beat FC Ravshan, who are currently ranked fifth in the Tajik League, and keep their hopes of a top-two finish in the group stage alive.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, which begins in February 2025.
Last season, Mohun Bagan finished third in their AFC Cup group stage and failed to advance to the knockout rounds.
Ahead of this much-anticipated clash against a tricky Ravshan unit, Molina's main challenge will be to resolve the defensive lapses that have plagued the team against Mumbai City FC.
In their last outing, Mohun Bagan was denied a winning start to the ISL 2024-25 by Mumbai City, as the Islanders netted twice in the second half to play out a 2-2 draw.
Players to watch out for:
Molina will need to strengthen both defence and midfield to neutralize Ravshan's star forward Bakhtiyor Zaripov, known for his magnificent off-the-ball movement and goal-scoring prowess.
For Mohun Bagan, Indian players like Liston Colaco and Asish Rai were outstanding in the ISL opener, while Greg Stewart and Jason Cummings displayed creativity in setting up chances. They are expected to deliver the goods yet again against Ravshan.
However, Jamie Maclaren and Alberto Rodriguez are unlikely to be available for this match as they continue to nurse injuries.
What to expect?
As this is the first meeting between the two sides, there will be an element of unpredictability in the two sides' playing styles.
A win will be a big confidence booster for Mohun Bagan and anything less will frustrate the players.
Ravshan, runners-up in last season's Tajik League, have come well-prepared for the big clash and are ready to put Mohun Bagan to the test, as coach Mami Nazarzaden indicated during the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
"I am aware of Indian football. We have analyzed it and seen the results. I was well-informed about Indian football, especially Mohun Bagan, over the last five years," Nazarzaden told the media.
When and where to watch?
The AFC Champions League Two group stage match between Mohun Bagan and FC Ravshan kicks off at 7:30 PM IST at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Fans can watch the match live on the FanCode app. However, there will not be televised live in India.