The Rising Stakes: Bengaluru & Mohun Bagan face each other in a transcendental stand-off

WHENEVER THESE TWO clubs face each other, you can bet there won't be a dull moment.

Indian football has seen the intensity of bitter social rivalry in Kolkata Derby, the fierce fight for regional supremacy in the North-East Derby, but when Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC face each other, the rivalry takes on a purer form.

It's about proving excellence. The two most successful clubs in recent times testing their strength against each other. It's a battle of stark contrasts: the oldest football club in the country versus the youngest in the top division. Tradition takes on raw youthful passion.

The first time these two clubs faced was the debut match of Bengaluru FC. The second time it was a declaration by the Blues that they were going to take the I-League title. Next season, these two clubs played out an I-League season-ending title decider that has gone down to the annuls of history. Their next meeting was a show of force between two title contenders, which Mohun Bagan won. And their last meeting, taking place after Benglauru FC had secured the title, saw the Mariners take out their title loss by ravaging a second string BFC side 5-0.

This season things are slightly different. Tonight, when Bengaluru FC will host Mohun Bagan, it will not be to strengthen their title aspirations. By all appearances, it seems like the defending champions are already out of the title race. It's only Mohun Bagan, who have suffered a terrible bump in their title challenge, who are hoping to rekindle that flame.

But that does not mean the intensity going into this game is any less than these two clubs' previous fabled encounters. Because tonight is not just about tonight.

When the West Block Blues - slated to hold a "holi celebration" in the Kanteerava premises before the match - welcome their fiercest rivals to their fortress once again, they will be gearing up for just the first chapter of a 3 or 4 part mega showdown between these two Indian football powerhouses.

Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan are also at odds in AFC Cup. They will play each other again, on this same venue, on 14th March, in an AFC Cup group stage game. The group is also a de facto group of death; only one will go into the knockouts of the continental tournament. 

So going into this game, the clubs are approaching a stage of the season where the fates of their campaigns are tied to each other. In fact, the two clubs are facking each other in not 2 but 3 back to back games with an international break in the middle of it. The Blues travel to face the Mariners on 1st April in Kolkata. And they will do the same again on 17th May.

So for both teams, how they do against each other may come to decide where they end up in both their domestic and international campaigns. So the stakes this season are arguably the highest they have ever been.

Mohun Bagan are going into this without their trusted keeper Debjit Majumder or defensive medio Pronay Halder. Even Jeje Lalpekhlua, who did only physical training yesterday, will not start. Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, are dealing with a bunch of key players being far from optimum fitness, including Sunil Chhetri, Khabra, Sandesh Jhingan, John Johnson and new recruit Jugovic. 

Although none of the teams are at their best going into this game, both will see this as a shot at redemption and re-claiming their pride. Bengaluru FC players will want to make it up to their fans after the terrible loss to East Bengal. Mohun Bagan will want to get back in title contention. Either way, for both teams, this match represents something much bigger than 3 points.

For the Indian football fans too, this is a rare treat. Bengaluru FC reached the AFC Cup final last year, while Mohun Bagan set two records in Asia by becoming the first Indian club with win an ACL preliinary game (current format) and going unbeaten in the group stage. By all means, these are the only two clubs that are taking Indian club football to an international stage, and this I-League game serves as a prelude to their first ever Asian confrontation.

For all the glitz and glamour brought in by the private tournament ISL, two Indian clubs - both recognized as a tour de fource in AFC Cup - fighting for continental glory is still the best advertisement of Indian club football that this country can put forth. There's a good chance that BFC and MB will be the top two teams in their group, and their own matches will decide who will progress to the knockouts. With that extra stake on the line, neither team will want to lose this I-League match; because it puts them down right before the crucial AFC Cup game. 

So when Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan play tonight, it won't be just for the league or individual bragging rights. It won't even be just to get in the groove for AFC Cup. It will be all that and more - the next big chapter in these their purist rivalry. And in a way, as the face-off between these two clubs grows in stature, the prestiege of Indian football grows with it.