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Defending Champions Minerva Punjab FC are all set to take on Title contenders East Bengal at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium on March 3. The game is set for a 2pm kick-off will hold a lot of importance for both the teams, though for the visitors, a win would only inch them closer towards realising a long-awaited I-League title which looks possible after Churchill Brothers defeated table toppers Chennai City FC 3-2 on Friday.
For the defending Champions, what would be critical is to continue with their winning momentum and they would start the match with the psychological advantage after their win against NEROCA FC came nearly after three months against East Bengal at the latters home ground in Kolkata.
Minerva Punjab FC are currently-placed ninth in the I-League points table with 17 points from as many games.
East Bengal, who have been on the top of their form in 2019 with just one loss against table toppers Chennai City FC, would look forward to continue their winning run and try to close the gap for the title run.
A win for the Red & Golds means they will be just one point shy of the table toppers Chennai City FC, taking the championship fight to the final day.
Alejandro Menendez said, “For us, we are more eager to win now as we have the realistic chance to win the championship. This match is very important for us. Our team is playing very good this season, our team is improving every day. We want to continue with the team and try to win the important match.”
East Bengal are currently placed second on the I-League points table with 36 points from 18 games. The 2-1 win against I-League debutants Real Kashmir FC helped them keep their hopes for a title-winning campaign.
For the defending champions, except the last win against NEROCA FC, there’s not much that they can rejoice about. Minerva Punjab FC have scored only 9 goals this season and conceded 15.
Minerva Punjab coach Sachin Badadhe said, “We are pretty confident about tomorrow’s game. We are ready to go for all three points. In the last game, Chennai lost the game so it can be the same condition with East Bengal tomorrow. The training is good and we are hoping for a positive result.”
“All the new players are coming to the team and they are professionals. They gel with the system well so we are trying to put everything in place against East Bengal tomorrow.”
Having defeated them in their last encounter in Kolkata this season, the defending champions wouldn’t want to let that statistical and mental edge go away, everything, in front of their home crowd.
While Minerva Punjab FC’s defensive line hasn’t been impressive, and with the likes of Esqueda, Santos and Ralte in the attacking line for the visitors, it would be interesting to see if the defending champions continue with their winning momentum tomorrow.
