East Bengal to host Al Arabi in AFC Champions League Two preliminary knockout at Salt Lake Stadium

Defending Indian Super League champion East Bengal FC will meet Kuwaiti league runner-up Al Arabi SC in an AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage knockout match at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday. The fixture is part of the preliminary stage of the AFC Champions League Two.

East Bengal return to this continental pathway after featuring in the AFC Challenge League in the 2024-25 season, when they lost the ACL Two qualifying tie to Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr after qualifying as the Super Cup winner. Having secured their place this time by winning India’s top league, the Kolkata club will be looking to capitalise on the opportunity. The match represents East Bengal’s immediate chance to progress further in the ACL Two competition.

The club began the new season under Spanish coach Antonio Lopez Habas, who has replaced compatriot Oscar Bruzon, the coach who guided East Bengal to its first top-flight league title in 22 years. Habas arrives with managerial experience and a mandate to build on last season’s domestic success. The coaching change is a key element of East Bengal’s preparation for continental play.

East Bengal have overhauled their foreign contingent while retaining Palestinian playmaker Basim Rashid. Spanish midfielder Dani Ramirez and Australian midfielder Chris Ikonomidis are available for selection. Those selections increase options in midfield and attack for Habas ahead of the knockout tie.

Defensive issues complicate East Bengal’s planning: Spanish centre-back Nacho Monsalve is sidelined with a knee injury, and Lalchungnunga is suspended following his red card against FC Arkadag in last year’s AFC Challenge League quarterfinal. As a result, Habas could be compelled to deploy an all-Indian defensive line led by Anwar Ali. Those absences remove experienced options from the backline for the Salt Lake Stadium fixture.

Al Arabi prepared for the match with a training camp in Turkiye that lasted more than a month and arrive with attacking reinforcements. Their threats include Palestinian forward Zaid Qunbar, Brazilian Lucas Shallon and Nigerian Anayo Iwuala. The visiting side’s offensive personnel are cited as key components of their match plan.

The winner of Wednesday’s preliminary-stage knockout will advance to the ACL Two group league stage, with progression decided by the outcome at Salt Lake Stadium.