Mohun Bagan Defeats East Bengal 1-0 in Durand Cup Opening Derby

On July 25, 2026, the 135th edition of the Durand Cup opened at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium with the historic Kolkata Derby. Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat arch‑rivals East Bengal FC 1‑0. Midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad scored in the 52nd minute after a low cross from Kiyan Nassiri, and goalkeeper Vishal Kaith kept a clean sheet. The match featured the first outings of Mohun Bagan’s Greek coach Panagiotis Dilmperis and East Bengal’s Spanish coach Antonio Lopez Habas. The victory gave Mohun Bagan a winning start to the tournament, where it holds a record 17 Durand Cup titles. The cup runs until August 23, involving 24 clubs from the Indian Super League, I‑League, armed forces and a Sri Lankan side, with matches across five Indian states. Broadcast rights belong to Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV. Ahead of the tournament, notable sign‑ins for Mohun Bagan included defender Rahul Bheke and midfielder Miguel Ferreira, while former India star Bhaichung Bhutia praised the competition and urged a group‑stage match in Siliguri. Coach Dilmperis said the team will improve all aspects after the win, and the opening fixture was highlighted in extensive media coverage and photo galleries.