The Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal has had an illustrious history and is among one of the most bitterly fought and watched derbies in the world. In Asia’s most intriguing derby, India’s oldest existing and successful club Mohun Bagan face their city-counterparts East Bengal, who are fiercely competitive and have had their fair share of achievements. 

While the first match of this historic derby was played on August 8, 1921, the last meeting between the two sides in January 2020 was won by the soon to be I-League champions Mohun Bagan.

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In this year’s India Super League however, both sides have undergone transition, with Mohun Bagan merging with former ISL side ATK, while East Bengal has morphed into SC East Bengal following their takeover.

The two bitter rivals have met on field on 369 occasions, with 327 of them coming in various competitions. The scales are tilted in East Bengal’s favour with 129 wins as opposed to Mohun Bagan’s 119 wins. The fierce rivals have had to share the spoils in the remaining 121 occasions.

Mohun Bagan’s most humiliating defeat in the derby came in the IFA shield final of 1975, when rivals East Bengal trounced their local rival by a margin of 5 goals. Mohun Bagan however, claims to have exacted revenge for their humiliating 1975 defeat when they triumphed 5-3 in 2009.

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Besides being fiercely competitive on pitch, both sides have their loyal retinue of fans who pin their hope on their respective sides, and the 2020-21 ISL season will be no different. Both teams will now clash in the ISL in their reinvented avatar, and will look to etch their name on the ISL trophy, a feat yet to be achieved by both sides.

In major trophy count, India’s oldest existing club Mohun Bagan has a slight edge over city rival East Bengal 73 to 70. Mohun Bagan has won the national league 5 times as opposed to Bengal’s 3.

East Bengal, however, has been more successful in winning with IFA shield, claiming it 28 times and has also won the International LG ASEAN Cup, a fact the club’s fans remind rival Bagan supporters at every turn. In Kolkata’s domestic League, East Bengal has been the more successful of the two sides, winning the local tournament a whooping 38 times as opposed to Mohun Bagan’s 30 league wins.

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Bagan however, has a rich past, having defeated East Yorkshire Regiment in 1911, becoming the first all-Indian side to achieve the feat. While Mohun Bagan has more Federation Cup and Rovers Cup trophies to its name, both sides have won 16 Durand Cups a-piece.

Mohun Bagan legend Jose Ramirez Barreto is the all-time top scorer for his side in the Kolkata derby with 17 goals, and former team India captain, Bhaichung Bhutia, who has played for both sides has 19 goals in the derby, scoring 13 for East Bengal and 6 for Bagan.