Oscar Bruzon, head coach of East Bengal, will hope for a replay of the result from last year when his side faced Chennaiyin FC away. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

Oscar Bruzon’s relationship with Chennai has been a fortuitous one. After huffing and puffing as East Bengal coach last season (two losses, one draw), his prayer for form was answered with his first away win — 2-0 vs Chennaiyin FC — at this very City of Temples.

“That was one of our best games last season, where we played with full determination and got the points. We were superior to them,” Bruzon remembers.

Sixteen months later, he returns with a similar hope at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, as the Red-and-Gold Brigade take on the Marina Machans in the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Saturday.

How can East Bengal approach the match?

Bruzon’s boys are brimming with confidence coming into the match, after a 7-0 demolition job against Mohammedan Sporting, and have lost just once (against Jamshedpur FC) in the ISL this season.

But in a truncated season, with every team playing each other just once, margins run thin, and draws won’t move the needle.

“Chennaiyin is a team that still has not found its rhythm, but it is a former ISL champion, one that is always among the contenders,” the Spaniard said before the match.

East Bengal is likely to have its dependable centre-back duo of Anwar Ali and Kevin Sibille back in the squad, with the latter missing the ISL so far with a hamstring injury, while Anwar had hobbled off during India’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong.

However, the availability of Mohammed Rashid in the middle of the park remains shrouded in uncertainty. The Palestine midfielder had twisted his ankle in training after the Mohammedan match and is expected to play limited minutes on Saturday.

In attack, Youssef Ezzejjari, the joint-highest goalscorer in the league (with seven goals), will be the usual suspect for goals, with Miguel Figueira playing architect in the midfield.

How can Chennaiyin approach the match?

Chennaiyin finds itself on the other end of the spectrum, coming into this contest. Its lone win this season came away, against Kerala Blasters, while it has a draw and a loss at home so far, with its previous clash ending in a 1-2 loss to newly-promoted Inter Kashi.

And coach Clifford Miranda will be desperate to raise the spirits of the two-time ISL champion, which is tottering as a mid-table club.

“East Bengal, in my opinion, is the most balanced team in the league, and it’s going to be very, very difficult,” Miranda told reporters before the match.

“But we will try. We will go in and work to win. Because this is our home. I’m telling you, it won’t be easy for them.”

Albeto Noguera, consecutive ISL champion with Mumbai City, and Mohammed Ali Bemammer, a Durand Cup winner with NorthEast United, will be the expected commanders in midfield for the host.

With India forwards Farukh Choudhary and Irfan Yadwad marshalling the final third, it will again be interesting to see how Miranda uses Inigo Martin, a conventional striker, who has often put on the robes of a No. 10 or No. 11, carrying the ball into the final third instead of delivering the finish.

However, the team will need to iron out its creases in defence, where the three-man back-line, along with the wingbacks, have often been caught out during counterattacks.

Scores to settle

Earlier in the season, Chennaiyin was knocked out by East Bengal in the Super Cup, following a 0-4 drubbing in what was Miranda’s second competitive game in charge.

Having watched East Bengal and his own team for quite some time now, the Goan tactician will look to conjure a redemption to spark new life into Chennaiyin’s fans.

The head-to-head is neatly poised between the two sides, with each winning three matches, while five games have ended in draws. In Chennai, too, each side has won once.

Will Bruzon add another chapter to cherish in Chennai, or will Miranda finally break the duck at his current club’s home? The answer will play out on a warm evening in April, in a 5 pm kick off.

Published on Apr 10, 2026