Mohun Bagan Wary Of In-Form Abahani Limited Dhaka In Crucial AFC Cup Clash

Facing challenges of a demanding preseason and a revamped team composition, a rusty Mohun Bagan Super Giant will be wary of in-form Abahani Limited Dhaka when they clash in Kolkata on Tuesday for a spot in the AFC Cup South Zone group berth. The Mariners are in the midst of a hectic preseason where they are also competing in the Durand Cup and in the Calcutta Football League Premier Division. Bagan has assembled a big budget team for the season, and it's no secret that the AFC Cup takes precedence for the Sanjiv Goenka-owned side.

Except for a 5-0 win over Bangladesh Army FT in the Durand Cup opener where they chose a young, all-Indian lineup with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh as the only experienced players, Mohun Bagan have struggled to put together their A-game.

The Mariners also saw their eight-match winning streak against arch-rivals East Bengal coming to an end following a 0-1 defeat.

The inclusion of their high-profile foreign signings have not given immediate results as coach Juan Ferrando has struggled to find a perfect balance.

Australian A-League winner Jason Cummings, who played in the 2022 World Cup, has struggled to find his form and create a strong attacking presence upfront.

The lone bright spot has been Anwar Ali, the India centre-back.

Mohun Bagan had Ali's aerial prowess to thank as the defender grabbed a brace to send his side through to the AFC Cup playoff with a 3-1 win over Machhindra.

Cummings also managed to find the target, which could significantly boost his confidence ahead of facing a stronger opponent in a knockout fixture.

The pressure was evident on the last two season's Inter-Zone semi-finalists as Ferrando termed it a "final".

"Tomorrow, it's like a final. We try to do everything we