NorthEast United to host Mohun Bagan at Sarusajai in ISL 2026-27 opener on Oct 12
NorthEast United FC will host Mohun Bagan SG at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati on Monday, 12 October 2026 in the opening game week of the 2026-27 Indian Super League. Both clubs come into the fixture fresh from IFA Shield involvement: NorthEast reached the semifinals on their tournament debut while Mohun Bagan beat their rivals 1-0 in the final to claim their 24th IFA Shield.
NorthEast United finished the 2025-26 ISL season in 9th place, winning four of their 13 matches, and are managed by Juan Pedro Benali who has strengthened the squad ahead of this campaign. Despite a heavy defeat to East Bengal in the IFA Shield semi-final, the Highlanders have shown goal threat in pre-season competitions. Mohun Bagan begin a new phase under Panagiotis Dilmperis, arrive buoyed by the IFA Shield title and a number of summer signings that have expanded their options.
Benali has urged an energetic, fast attacking approach and will expect his players to convert chances while tightening defensive discipline after recent lapses. The Highlanders’ home performance in this opener is presented in the article as a potential statement of intent for their ISL ambitions, with the warning that a heavy home defeat would be damaging to start the season.
Dilmperis has emphasised caution and collective defensive solidity against NorthEast’s attacking threats while also encouraging incisive and entertaining attacking play. The Mariners view a commanding win as a means to assert themselves among title contenders, whereas dropping points in the first match under Dilmperis would be unwelcome.
Squad news lists Juan Pedro Benali with a largely fit group available for the opener. For Mohun Bagan, Jamie Maclaren remains a doubt after sustaining a hamstring injury during the IFA Shield, and Lalengmawia Ralte sustained an injury in training and will take a fitness test to check his status.
Historic results and likely lineups are provided: NorthEast United wins – 3, Mohun Bagan wins – 11. Projected NorthEast XI: Gurmeet (GK), Dinesh Singh, Pramveer, Eneko Satrustegui, Tondonba Singh, Antonio Moyano, Mayakkannan, Nikola Ninkovic, Jithin MS, Abdul Rabeeh, Alaeddine Ajaraie. Projected Mohun Bagan XI: Vishal Kaith (GK), Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Alberto Rodriguez, Abhishek Singh, Deepak Tangri, Anirudh Thapa, Samir Zeljkovic, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Dejan Drazic, Lee Erwin.
Alaeddine Ajaraie returned to NorthEast after a loan and has scored 12 goals for them in the 2026-27 campaign, having impressed at the Durand Cup and IFA Shield; he won the Golden Boot at the end of the 2024-25 ISL campaign. Mohun Bagan’s summer signing Lallianzuala Chhangte arrived amid significant investment, is 29 years old and scored four goals for Mumbai City in the 2025-26 campaign; he is still adapting to Dilmperis’ system and will make his ISL debut for Mohun Bagan.
The NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan ISL fixture is scheduled for Monday, 12 October 2026 at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati with a 7:30 PM IST kick-off. The match will be televised on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD and will be available to stream for free on YouTube.
