Derby waiting or some fresh blood? East Bengal face Gokulam Kerala, Real Kashmir set date with Mohun Bagan in Durand Cup

East Bengal Football Club - which was established on 1st August 1920 as a Sports and Cultural association - were placed in Group A.

They played against Army Red, Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC - winning all their matches. 

The club has won the Durand Cup 16 times.

Gokulam Kerala Football Club was formed in 2017 with a vision to resurrect the football culture in Kerala. 

They were placed in Group D along with Indian Air Force, TRAU and Chennaiyin FC.

Gokulam Kerala were the champion of the Kera Premier League in 2017. 

The club is the only I-League team to have a Women’s football team at the national level competition.

Real Kashmir Football Club is based in Srinagar. This is the first team from Kashmir to compete in I-League. 

They participated in their first national competition in September 2016 in the Durand Cup. This year they placed in Group C along with FC Goa, Chennai City FC and Army Green.

In July 2017 Real Kashmir FC became the first club from J&K to play on foreign soil by playing 4 matches in Scotland.

Mohun Bagan AC was established on 15th August 1889. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club is one of the oldest clubs in Asia. 

It has a history of becoming the first Indian team to win IFA Shield. In this year's Durand Cup, they were placed in Group B along with Mohammedan Sporting Club, Indian Navy and ATK.

Mohun Bagan has won National League/I-League four times and Federation Cup a record fourteen times. The club has also won the Durand Cup 16 times.