East Bengal must sharpen finishing and shore up wide defence after Al-Arabi win
East Bengal beat Al-Arabi SC 4-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, to advance to the group stage of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two after Jay Gupta’s equaliser forced extra time and Antonio Habas’ side completed the comeback in the added period.
The result ended East Bengal’s qualifying tie and secured the club a place in the newly-christened AFC Champions League Two for the first time, a breakthrough that also carries the responsibility of representing Indian football at continental level. The Red & Gold Brigade had trailed in the match before rallying, producing a turnaround that observers described as tenacious and efficient.
Under head coach Antonio Lopez Habas, East Bengal have leaned heavily on quick transitions and counter-attacking play, moving rapidly from their box into the opposition final third. That approach produced the comeback at Salt Lake, but the coaching staff identify finishing as a shortcoming: while the team creates fast attacks, they remain inconsistent and “not as clinical” at converting chances in the final phase of transitions.
The squad composition permitted in AFC Champions League Two allows six foreign players on matchday, yet East Bengal’s defensive spine will likely include only one foreign centre-back, Nacho Monsalve, increasing the reliance on Indian defenders. The club regard Anwar Ali as a dependable option, but they expect domestic full-backs to elevate their performances; Hardik Bhatt and Jay Gupta were noted as having solid games against Al-Arabi, with Gupta on the scoresheet.
Coaches and analysts within the club have flagged the wide areas as a potential vulnerability in tougher group-stage opposition. East Bengal must have full-backs who detect danger, track opposing wingers effectively and execute well-timed challenges, while their own wide attackers are expected to track back to provide protection and prevent being exposed on the flanks.
Scoring four goals in the qualifier underlined East Bengal’s capacity to capitalise when chances arrive, but the club acknowledge that group-stage opponents will be sharper and less error-prone than the tired or sloppy moments they exploited against Al-Arabi. The team will likely encounter matches in which they do not dominate possession, so converting limited opportunities and being ruthless in the final third are priorities identified by the coaching staff.
East Bengal’s tactical identity in the qualifier included proactive efforts to regain possession in key areas rather than retreating into a defensive shell, an instruction credited to Habas during the match build-up. While the coach has employed defensive setups against intimidating opponents, he is expected to press and close down space in group-stage matches to create turnover opportunities and feed the team’s counter-attacking game.
East Bengal will now enter the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two group stage carrying the expectations of representing Indian football in the competition, and the club have highlighted finishing, defensive solidity on the wings and collective pressing as areas to address before the main tournament begins.