Kalinga Super Cup: A young Mohun Bagan eyes semifinal spot vs Kerala Blasters; Goa locks horns with Punjab
MBSG clinched the domestic double – Indian Super League (ISL) Cup and League Winner's Shield – this season, but will have none of its foreign players from the regular season in the Super Cup squad.
Instead, former U-21 Portugal international Nuno Reis will be the only non-Indian player in the contingent, while assistant coach Bastab Roy has replaced head coach Jose Francisco Molina for the tournament.
MBSG's foreigners had contributed to 48 of 52 goals (32G, 16A) in ISL 2024-25, and their absence could see Indians like Ashique Kuruniyan (two starts in 2024-25 season compared to 12 last season) and Sahal Abdul Samad (eight starts instead of 13 last season), who struggled for game time in the regular season, take centre-stage.
It will also be MBSG's opening match in the Super Cup after it got a bye in the round of 16 after Churchill Brothers, its scheduled opponent, withdrew.
'We are treating this tournament as an opportunity for young guys to find out how they can perform in the long run,' Bastab said during the pre-match press conference.
Meanwhile, KBFC looks to have turned the tide under new head coach David Catala. The side, which finished eighth in the league phase, appointed Catala before the tournament, and knocked out defending champion East Bengal 2-0 in his first competitive game in charge.
ALSO READ: Kerala Blasters' David Catala: It's not my responsibility to develop Indians, I will choose the best 11 players
Despite KBFC's hunt for a first trophy, Catala said that his main goal was to make sure that his players are focused on the next game and not the bigger picture.
'To start thinking about trophies right now is, for me, it's not right. It's not helping anyone, and we need to just focus on the task tomorrow,' Catala said.
KBFC could fret over the availability of talisman Adrian Luna, who missed the team's practice session on the eve of the last-eight clash. The 33-year-old midfielder came off early in the second half of the match against EBFC with a suspected muscle injury.
Marquez eyes Super Cup glory as FC Goa takes on Punjab FC
Later in the day, Manolo Marquez's hope of bringing the curtains down on his tenure as FC Goa coach with a trophy will face a stern challenge when his side takes on Punjab FC.
After its semifinal heartbreak against Bengaluru FC in the ISL, FCG bounced back in the Super Cup with a 3-0 win against I-League side Gokulam Kerala FC, courtesy of a hat-trick from Spanish forward Iker Guarrotxena.
The Gaurs remain the only team in the competition who can win the Super Cup for the second time, after lifting the cup in 2019.
Meanwhile, despite a disappointing ISL campaign where it finished 10th, PFC produced a controlled showing in its round of 16 clash against Odisha FC, winning 3-0. It will be boosted by the fitness of forward Luka Majcen, who missed the opener with injury.
RELATED: FC Goa beats Gokulam Kerala to enter quarterfinals; Punjab FC edges past Odisha FC
PFC's head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis said the Slovenian had trained with the team yesterday..
'Today, we will go to the field to double-check, and then we will make a decision according to whatever strategy and plans we have for the game (against FCG),' Dilmperis said.
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