Overview
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated East Bengal 1-0 at Salt Lake Stadium with Sahal Abdul Samad scoring in the 52nd minute and goalkeeper Vishal Kaith making key saves to preserve the lead.
- The match on Saturday, July 25, formally opened the 135th Durand Cup with a military and state‑led ceremony at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
- The month‑long tournament features 24 teams in six groups, includes Sri Lanka’s Defenders FC, and advances six group winners plus the two best runners‑up to the quarter‑finals.
- Both clubs started the season under new head coaches and fielded largely Indian lineups because several overseas signings arrived late and were unlikely to be match‑ready.
- The derby underlined Mohun Bagan’s historical edge in the competition — they have 17 Durand titles to East Bengal’s 16 — and offered domestic players a platform while the group stage continues across five host cities with matches on Sony Ten 5 and streamed on Sony LIV.