East Bengal in ACL 2 — ISL champion looks to continue purple patch against Jordanian giant Al Hussein

For East Bengal, the silver lining will be momentum for it comes into the tournament after winning the Durand Cup, while Al Hussein has struggled for form early on this season. | Photo Credit: Durand Cup Media

Indian Super League (ISL) champion East Bengal will look to continue its fine form as it begins its AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) group-stage campaign on Wednesday.

The Red-and-Gold Brigade won the Indian top flight after 22 years, while also winning the Durand Cup this season. The ISL title secured East Bengal’s spot in the preliminary stages of the AFC Champions League Two, with the team beating Al Arabi 4-1 in extra-time to confirm a spot in the group stages of the tournament.

Antonio Habas’ side is now drawn with Al Hussein, Al Shorta and Al Seeb in Group D of the continental tournament, and will face Jordanian giant Al Hussein away, in its first round.

Al Hussein has enjoyed a strong period of consistency in the last few seasons, winning a hat-trick of Jordanian top flight titles and consecutive Super Cup trophies. In the last edition of ACL 2, Al Hussein reached the quarterfinals, where it lost to Al Ahli from Qatar.

The team has multiple players from the Jordanian national team, which played in its maiden FIFA World Cup this year, including Mahmoud Al-Mardi, who serves as the club captain.

East Bengal, on the other hand, will be playing in the group stages of ACL 2 for the first time. It last played in the group stages of the second tier of Asian football 11 years ago, where it was called the AFC Cup.

For the Indian club, the silver lining will be momentum for it comes into the tournament after winning the Durand Cup, beating arch-rival Mohun Bagan Super Giant, while Al Hussein has struggled for form early on this season.

It was thrashed 0-5 by Al Jazeera in its league-opener and drew goalless in its next match with Al Baqa’a. However, playing on home soil could embolden the Jordanian champion to get back to its prime.

The match kicks off at the Amman International Stadium at 9:30 pm IST.