The Kolkata Derby is more than a football match. It is a battle of identity, pride, and history between two of India’s most storied clubs. In the Indian Super League (ISL), this fierce rivalry carries a very clear story: Mohun Bagan Super Giant has been the dominant force.
East Bengal FC has struggled to find its footing against the Mariners in India’s top football league. The numbers speak for themselves: in 10 ISL meetings, East Bengal has not won a single game, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant has claimed 9 victories and one draw.
This article breaks down the full head-to-head record, memorable matches, and key stats from every ISL Kolkata Derby played so far.
Head-to-Head Overview:
The numbers tell a one-sided story. East Bengal FC has failed to record a single win in 10 ISL derbies. Their only saving grace is the lone draw in February 2024, which remains their best result against the Mariners in ISL history.
Here is a quick look at the overall ISL head-to-head record between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant across all five seasons:
| Metric | Stat |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 10 |
| East Bengal Won | 0 |
| Mohun Bagan Won | 9 |
| Draw | 1 |
Memorable Matches Between East Bengal FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s goal difference of +17 across 10 ISL derbies is an extraordinary achievement. In no season has East Bengal FC managed to win against their arch-rivals in the league.
1. The Inaugural ISL Derby – ATK Mohun Bagan 2–0 East Bengal FC (Nov 27, 2020)
The first-ever ISL Kolkata Derby was played inside a bio-bubble in Goa due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both clubs had just entered the league that season. ATK Mohun Bagan made their statement immediately.
Roy Krishna opened the scoring in the 49th minute, with Manvir Singh sealing the win in the 85th minute.
A clean sheet in the derby on debut set the tone for what was to come in future seasons. The empty stands in Goa could not hide the fixture’s historical weight.
2. Kiyan Nassiri’s Hat-Trick – ATK Mohun Bagan 3–1 East Bengal FC (Jan 29, 2022)
This match stands out as one of the most talked-about ISL derbies. Kiyan Nassiri, son of former East Bengal player Jamshid Nassiri, became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the history of the Kolkata Derby.
Nassiri’s treble powered ATK Mohun Bagan to a 3–1 win. East Bengal did pull one back, but Nassiri’s individual brilliance made this a night to forget for the Red and Gold faithful.
The poetic irony of a son of an East Bengal legend scoring a hat-trick for Mohun Bagan made headlines across Indian football.
3. The Derby That Almost Was – Mohun Bagan SG 2–2 East Bengal FC (Feb 3, 2024)
For the first time in ISL history, East Bengal FC came close to winning the derby. Ajay Chhetri gave East Bengal a shock lead in just the 3rd minute. Mohun Bagan equalised through Armando Sadiku, but East Bengal struck again from the penalty spot through Cleiton Silva.
With minutes left and East Bengal dreaming of a historic first ISL derby win, Dimitri Petratos struck a dramatic late equaliser to rescue a point for Mohun Bagan.
This is the only one in 10 ISL derbies to remain East Bengal’s best-ever result against Mohun Bagan in the league, though the fans were left heartbroken by Petratos’s last-gasp effort.
| Season | Score | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | EBFC 0–2 MBSG | MBSG won the inaugural match against EBFC |
| 2021-22 | MBSG 3-1 EBFC | Kiyan Nassiri scored a hat-trick, the youngest to do so |
| 2023-24 | MBSG 2-2 EBFC | Only draw between the two teams |
Fun Facts About This Rivalry
Mohun Bagan Super Giant (as ATK Mohun Bagan and later MBSG) have never lost an ISL Kolkata Derby in any of the five seasons they have played.
- East Bengal FC’s only ISL derby point came on February 3, 2024, more than three years after the two clubs first met in the league.
- Kiyan Nassiri’s hat-trick on January 29, 2022, made him the youngest player to score a hat-trick in Kolkata Derby history.
- Mohun Bagan scored 23 goals and conceded just 5 across 10 ISL derby matches.
- The inaugural ISL Derby was played not in Kolkata but in Goa, due to the COVID-19 pandemic bio-bubble restrictions in the 2020-21 season.
- East Bengal’s January 2025 derby was moved from Kolkata to Guwahati for administrative reasons, and Mohun Bagan still won 1-0, with Jamie Maclaren scoring in the 6th minute.
- Despite their rich overall history across 100+ years and 400+ meetings, East Bengal has zero ISL wins against Mohun Bagan, a fact that continues to haunt their supporters.
More Head-to-Head:
Conclusion: The Mariners Own This Rivalry
When it comes to the ISL version of the Kolkata Derby, there is only one conclusion: Mohun Bagan Super Giant are in a league of their own. Nine wins, one draw, and zero losses across 10 matches; that record is hard to argue with.
East Bengal FC has shown glimpses of fight, most notably in the February 2024 draw, where they were minutes away from a famous first ISL derby win. But the Mariners have had the quality, consistency, and belief to come out on top time and again.
Until East Bengal manages to beat Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the ISL, the Green and Maroon brigade will rightfully claim dominance in this fixture. For East Bengal fans, the wait for that elusive first ISL derby win goes on, and it remains the most talked-about ‘what if’ in Indian club football.
FAQs
Both teams have played 10 ISL matches in total, across the 2020-21 to 2024-25 seasons.
No. East Bengal FC has not won a single ISL match against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in 10 attempts. Their best result remains the 2-2 draw in February 2024.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant has won 9 of the 10 ISL Kolkata Derby matches, drawing the remaining 1. They have never lost to East Bengal in the Indian Super League.
The February 3, 2024, match is widely regarded as the most dramatic. East Bengal led twice, only for Dimitri Petratos to score a last-minute equaliser for Mohun Bagan, ending the game 2-2, the only draw in ISL derby history.
Dimitrios Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant) has been one of the most influential players in ISL derbies, scoring crucial goals across multiple seasons. Kiyan Nassiri holds the record for the most goals in a single ISL derby with his hat-trick on January 29, 2022.
The first-ever ISL Kolkata Derby was played on November 27, 2020, at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco da Gama, Goa. ATK Mohun Bagan won the match 2-0, with goals from Roy Krishna and Manvir Singh.
