Sporting Club Delhi will seek to secure their first points of the Indian Super League season when they host Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.
Tomasz Tchorz’s young team displayed resilience in a closely contested 3-2 defeat against Bengaluru FC last week. Delhi took the lead at half-time in that match but conceded a late goal in the 89th minute to lose narrowly. Returning to their home ground, the Phoenixes are hopeful of capitalising on home advantage.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will arrive looking to rebound from a late loss to NorthEast United FC on Monday. Addressing the media ahead of the fixture, the Bagan coach stated, “Every game we are approaching with the same aim, which is to get three points,” according to an Indian Super League press release.
The team will be without midfielder Deepak Tangri, who is suspended, but coach Panagiotis Dilmperis has a deep squad to cover his absence. Mohun Bagan SG has not held a pre-match press conference, with Dilmperis emphasizing previously that the “culture of the team demands wins,” highlighting mounting pressure on the club.
Sporting Club Delhi impressed with their high-tempo pressing and consistency in their opening match. They aim to exploit a rotated Mohun Bagan SG defensive line early in the match. However, the visitors boast significant attacking talent in players such as Lallianzuala Chhangte, Dejan Dražić and Lee Erwin, who will need to be clinical to break down Delhi’s disciplined defence.
The fixture carries considerable emotional significance, recalling the final day of last season when Mohun Bagan SG secured a dramatic 2-1 injury-time victory against East Bengal, despite East Bengal ultimately winning the league on goal difference.