ISL 2026-27: East Bengal looks to begin title defence in style against old rival Churchill Brothers

David Lalhlansanga (second from left) scored twice for East Bengal in its previous match, and he will look to continue his form in the domestic circuit this time around. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media

Churchill Brothers is no unfamiliar name to Antonio López Habas. The last time he was in the I-League, coaching Inter Kashi, Churchill was vying with his team for the title. After a protracted legal battle, Kashi eventually secured its place in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Much has changed since. Churchill has acquired the ISL playing rights of Jamshedpur FC and now finds itself on the other side of the divide from Habas’ East Bengal, the defending league champion. The two teams will face off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa as the Red-and-Gold Brigade begins its title defence today.

“It’s a dangerous match for us and against a dangerous team,” Habas said before the match. “Our idea is the three points. We respect them, but we have to push our level.”

East Bengal comes into the match after its continental commitments in the AFC Champions League Two, where it lost 2-3 to Al Shorta in Kolkata, with David Lalhlansanga Hmar scoring a brace for the Indian club. The club has looked relentless in attack and won the Indian top flight last season after 22 years.

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Churchill Brothers, on the other hand, comes into the contest after an impressive 2-1 victory over Mumbai City FC in its first-ever ISL match. Its next match will be at the same venue and will naturally enjoy a home advantage.

“Of course we got a win, we got the first three points,” head coach Dimitris Dimitriou said. “But for sure there are a lot of areas for improvement. We have worked very hard and analysed our game. I believe we are going to play better football on Sunday.”

The encounter brings together two clubs with a shared history in the National Football League and I-League. Their last meeting, in February 2020, had ended in a 1-1 draw.

But with six top-flight titles between them, the match is expected to be a thrilling clash. And for Habas, it will be a chance to have another of his moments to try and pip the Goan club, albeit under a different team.