MARGAO, INDIA: The action heats up at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao, Goa on Sunday, December 7, when FC Goa take on East Bengal in the final of the ongoing AIFF Super Cup. Goa are the defending champions of the tournament, while East Bengal won it the year before, in 2023-24.
Goa, who have won the tournament twice since its inception in its current format in 2018-19, are playing at home, and quite naturally, will start as favourites. East Bengal, however, are no minnows, and have been splendid so far in this edition of the tournament, conceding just three goals and scoring nine.
Goa, for their part, have also conceded just three goals so far in this tournament and found the back of the net on seven occasions. Manager Manolo Marquez, who spoke at a media interaction on Saturday, however, was not taking the Torchbearers for granted. He knew how big a challenge the visitors would pose.
“There is always excitement when you are playing a final. It’s a final, and both teams will have the same excitement. In fact, we are the last two teams to win this trophy. I think it will be a good final. East Bengal are a very good side, and it is not just about their starters. If you look at their bench, you will see a strong squad,” said Marquez.
For East Bengal, assistant coach Bino George attended the briefing since head coach Oscar Bruzon has been suspended for the final after picking up a red card in the semifinal. Bruzon was sent packing to the stands at half-time by the referee during their 3-1 win over Punjab for showing dissent against the latter’s decision.
“Coach Oscar [Bruzon] has set all the plans. We have a good strategy to take on FC Goa. We also have a good midfield, but if we make silly errors, we know that they will punish us. We will show the players the strengths and weaknesses of Goa, and ask them to stick to the plan at all costs,” offered George.
“As FC Goa are the defending champions, they will have an advantage” – Supporters
While the tactical side of the game is always uplifting for the players involved, football is much less a mathematical conquest than a festival for those who matter the most, and those who make it an event of life and death, if not more – the fans. With the game being a final and on a Sunday, one can expect thousands to line up at the historic Fatorda for a glimpse of their heroes.
Fans from all over Goa, even those residing in the far north, are expected to arrive well before kickoff, while the local authorities are ready to welcome a significant presence of travelling East Bengal supporters from Calcutta. And then, there is also the presence of Probashe East Bengal, the supporters’ group of the club, primarily designed for away games.
“As FC Goa are the defending champions, I think that they will have an advantage. Plus, they are playing at home, which means that the stadium will be filled with most of their supporters. Still, East Bengal have accounted well for themselves in the Super Cup. I am confident of their chances,” Shubho Bhattacharya, 42, a techie who has travelled from Calcutta for the match, told the Tribune.
Most of these supporters know that with the prospect of a top-tier league looking increasingly unfeasible by the day, this could be the last opportunity for them to watch their favourite clubs in action. The fact that the clubs involved are top-quality ones – Goa and East Bengal – makes their willingness to travel all the more easier.
Many of these fans, to whom the Tribune spoke on the streets of Margao, Panjim and across the villages of north and south Goa, are keen on making it to the Fatorda, despite the arduous nature of their journeys, with little or no access to public transport, especially when the match gets over late at night.
“I will be there to support FC Goa. It is our home club, and being the defending champions, I believe that we have an edge. Also, the experience of playing in the AFC Champions League Two has given Goa a lot to learn and get better at,” Savio D’Souza, 38, a marketing professional from Canacona, south Goa, said to the Tribune.
“The stadium should be filled with FC Goa supporters since it is not often that you get to play a final at home. I will be there with all my friends and relatives. Even my parents and my aged grandparents are supporters of the club. We live far to the north of Margao, but will make the trip knowing that it will be worthwhile,” Maria Dias, 28, a teacher from Morjim, north Goa, mentioned to the Tribune.
No matter who wins, the Fatorda will be jam-packed to the rafters, and there is no better sign than that, especially at a time when Indian football appears to be dangerously ill. That, more than the action on the pitch, will send a message to the authorities concerned that the sport is still alive – albeit on its last legs – in this country.
How to watch the final between East Bengal and FC Goa?
- You can come to the Fatorda Stadium in Margao, where entry is free.
- You can watch it on TV or a device, with broadcast on Star Sports Khel, and live streaming on Jio HotStar.
- Kick off is at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
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