With close to 350 meetings in the last 97 years, the fixture is a highlight on the annual fixture list of the I-League and previously National Football League, since its inception.The Red and Golds have the bragging rights in the much awaited Indiaas all-consuming rivalry (Kolkata derby), as they go face-to-face against the Green and Maroons at the Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri on Sunday.

Here is a list of 5 key battles that may influence the scoreline of the Kolkata derby:

  1. IVAN BUKENYA (EAST BENGAL) VS DARRYL DUFFY (MOHUN BAGAN)

    Picture Courtesy to Mr. Swapan Kumar Paul

One of the key battles that will be shaping up the Kolkata derby, away from Kolkata is the aerial duel between the 1.92 m tall Ugandan center-half of East Bengal, Ivan Bukenya and the 1.8 m tall Scottish striker of Mohun Bagan, Darryl Duffy. The Scot is currently the owner of the Golden Boot, with a tally of 6 goals in 6 matches, but his job will be extremely difficult against the Ugandan, who literally made life hell on the field for other strikers in the league so far, most notably Anthony Wolfe of Churchill Brothers. Bukenya is also a key part of East Bengalas set pieces and his goal poaching abilities from corners and short free-kicks makes him a deadly proposition to contain for the opposition. Duffy, on the other hand, has scored half the percentage of his total goals from half chances, with the notable diving header against Aizawl FC last weekend. It will be interesting to see how Darryl Duffy and the entire midfield of Mohun Bagan approaches the impending threats of aerial duels against the tall man from Uganda.

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