Both teams stay on 44 points from 21 matches though East Bengal are ahead on goal difference.
Four-time champions Dempo who qualified for the knockout round of AFC Cup a couple of days back have the luxury of a full-strength squad at their disposal. Beto and Ranty Martins are set to spearhead Dempo’s attack and one needs to remember that both did score for the Goan giants in their last AFC Cup match.
Dempo coach Armando Colaco said, “This is an important match for us and we will try to get three points. I feel the League is still open and there are quite a few who can clinch it.”
East Bengal on the other hand will look forward to cash in on the home advantage. Coach Trevor Morgan feels there’s isn’t any room for mistakes against Dempo. “Dempo are a good side and we need to execute our plans to perfection,” he said.
Morgan, unlike Armando, isn’t lucky enough to have the entire squad to choose from. “Naoba Singh, Soumik Dey and Vashum would be missed,” Morgan informed.
The last time the two teams met, East Bengal had won 1-0.