East Bengal to host Al-Shorta at Salt Lake Stadium in AFC Champions League Two on October 13
East Bengal will host Iraqi side Al-Shorta at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday, 13 October in their first home match of the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 campaign.
East Bengal salvaged a point in their opening group game and are seeking a substantial win to assert themselves in the group, while Al-Shorta sit atop the section after winning their first match and aim to extend that run. Both teams feature influential players across the pitch whose individual duels could prove decisive in the outcome.
On the right flank, Bipin Singh — who has continental experience from his time at Mumbai City — is expected to start after being benched against Al-Hussein, with instructions to use surging runs and incisive final-third passes to create danger. He is likely to face a close-marking assignment from Al-Shorta defender Ahmed Yahya, described in the preview as a rugged defensive asset capable of neutralising dangerous wingers. Yahya will probably try to restrict Singh’s movement and deny him space in the final third, forcing Singh to vary his runs and find pockets between the lines.
Al-Shorta’s attacking threat is likely to be led by Cameroonian striker Leonel Ateba, who scored 17 goals in the Iraqi Stars League for the club in the 2025-26 season and is yet to open his account in this AFC Champions League Two campaign. Ateba is expected to be matched up against centre-back Anwar Ali, who was singled out for a solid showing in the draw with Al-Hussein and is described as India’s most reliable centre-back. The preview states Ali will aim to mark Ateba tightly, using physical challenges and positional discipline to limit the striker’s impact.
East Bengal’s midfield will depend on Dani Ramirez, who scored their first goal and assisted the second in the match against Al-Hussein, to drive the attack and create chances. Al-Shorta’s Cristian Barco, noted for his role in the win over Al-Seeb where he provided the assist for the winner, is identified as the primary defensive midfielder tasked with marking Ramirez. The match narrative expects Barco to press Ramirez and reduce his time on the ball, meaning Ramirez will need accurate final passes and intelligent movement to bypass Barco’s attention.
East Bengal will face Al-Shorta at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 campaign, before beginning their title defence in the Indian Super League (ISL), on October 13, 2026. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:15 PM (IST) and will be broadcast live on the FanCode app; tickets are available via @district_india.
Fans seeking further coverage can follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or download the Khel Now Android or iOS apps; the outlet also offers updates through WhatsApp and Telegram as the game approaches.
