Mohun Bagan Eye Fresh Start as ACL II Campaign Kicks Off Against Ahal FK

Ray Sportz Web Desk: The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan braces itself for a crucial continental night as Mohun Bagan Super Giant host Turkmenistan’s Ahal FK in their AFC Champions League II opener on Tuesday evening. For the Mariners, this game is more than just the first step in Asia — it is an opportunity to wipe away the disappointment of their Durand Cup exit and find their rhythm before the new domestic season begins.
Mohun Bagan’s pre-season preparations were thrown off course when they crashed out of the Durand Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing 2-1 to arch-rivals East Bengal. The defeat was a bitter pill for the team, breaking a run of recent dominance in the Kolkata Derby and exposing defensive lapses. Adding to the unease has been the uncertainty surrounding the ISL schedule, which has left clubs scrambling to keep players motivated and match-ready.
Head coach José Francisco Molina, however, believes the team has put the setback behind them. “We are focused on the job at hand. This competition gives us the meaningful game time we have been waiting for. The players are ready and excited,” Molina said on the eve of the match. Midfield general Anirudh Thapa echoed his coach’s confidence, insisting that off-field issues had not distracted the squad.
The Mariners will miss forward Manvir Singh through injury, but Molina has a near full-strength squad at his disposal. There is speculation that the Spaniard could start with an attacking trio, bringing Brazilian recruit Robson Robinho into the line-up alongside Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren. Much will depend on how quickly the new combinations click under pressure.
Their opponents, Ahal FK, are no pushovers despite travelling without any overseas players. The Turkmen side has been in Kolkata since September 12, using the time to acclimatise to conditions and train on the Salt Lake pitch. Midfielder Enver Annayev, who has experience playing here with FK Arkadag earlier this year, will be a key figure as Ahal look to frustrate the hosts with a compact defensive set-up and spring quick counters.
For Mohun Bagan, the stakes could not be higher. A winning start would provide the confidence boost they need heading into the rest of the group stage, where tougher assignments against West Asian opposition await. The home crowd is expected to turn up in large numbers, providing the Mariners with the kind of electric atmosphere that has so often spurred them to victory.
Tonight’s clash, therefore, is about more than just three points — it is about redemption, momentum, and proving that India’s champions can once again hold their own on the continental stage.