Gameweek 2 of the Indian Super League 2025–26 continues with a Saturday double-header on February 21, as East Bengal FC host Sporting Club Delhi at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata at 17:00 IST.
Later in the evening, Jamshedpur FC will welcome Punjab FC to the JRD Tata Sports Complex for a 19:00 IST kick-off. Both fixtures will be streamed live on FanCode and telecast on Sony Sports Ten 2.
East Bengal FC vs Sporting Club Delhi
East Bengal FC head into their second fixture of the campaign on the back of a dominant 3-0 win over NorthEast United FC in their season opener at the same venue. A clinical attacking display saw Youssef Ezzejjari register a brace, while Miguel Ferreira added the third to seal a comprehensive victory for the Red and Gold Brigade.
Speaking ahead of the match, East Bengal FC head coach Óscar Bruzón acknowledged the challenge posed by Sporting Club Delhi despite their opening defeat.
“SC Delhi are not an unknown side for us. They have a clear playing identity, a coach who believes in possession football and building from the back, and a group of young, energetic players who will come here looking for their first points. We expect a tough game. In a shorter duration league, mistakes are costly, so our focus is to go game by game and keep improving. If we can sustain our performance level, I believe we are in a good position to get the result we want,” he said.
Midfielder Jeakson Singh echoed the sentiment, emphasising the importance of maintaining consistency early in the season.
“We know every match is important. We have prepared for a long time, and we are ready to give everything on the pitch this season. The fans were amazing in the last match, and we hope they come in big numbers again. We will give our 100 per cent to make them proud,” he stated.
Sporting Club Delhi, meanwhile, will be aiming for a response after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Bengaluru FC in their opening fixture. Head coach Tomasz Tchórz acknowledged the scale of the challenge awaiting his side in Kolkata.
“East Bengal are one of the strongest and most organised teams in the league, with experienced Indian players, quality foreigners and a coach who has achieved success in India and Asia. For us, this is not only a big challenge, but also a massive opportunity,” he said.
“The players showed that we can compete at this level, even if the result did not go our way against Bengaluru. Now we must improve our focus in crucial moments and be more clinical with our chances. We travel to Kolkata with belief, ambition, and the clear objective of fighting for three points.”
Defender Manoj Mohammed added that the team must focus on collective performance.
“Scoring is important for the team, no matter who gets the goal. What matters most is that we perform well collectively and take our chances. I’ve played in Kolkata before, including big matches like the derby. The atmosphere there is intense, and performing well feels very good.”
With East Bengal looking to sustain their attacking momentum and SC Delhi seeking greater defensive solidity, the early kick-off promises an engaging tactical contest.
Jamshedpur FC vs Punjab FC
In the later fixture, Jamshedpur FC will aim to build on their winning start at the Furnace, where an early strike from former Punjab midfielder Madih Talal secured a 1-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting in their opener.
Head coach Owen Coyle highlighted the need for sustained focus against a Punjab side capable of posing a threat across the pitch.
“We’re very respectful of Punjab because they have quality and real depth across the pitch, especially in the wide areas. We know they can be very dangerous if you switch off for even a moment. That’s why our focus has to be on ourselves – on taking care of the ball, maintaining our concentration for the full game, and being more clinical with the chances we create. If we perform to our maximum, move the ball well, and play with the intensity we expect from ourselves at home, then it’s a game we believe we can win,” Coyle said.
Defender Stephen Eze also stressed the importance of maintaining their playing identity at home.
“Punjab are a strong team, but we will stick to our style, give 100 per cent, and with the fans behind us at home, we will do everything possible to secure the three points,” he noted.
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Punjab FC travel to Jamshedpur for their first match of the season, looking to begin their campaign on a positive note. Head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis expressed confidence in his team’s preparation.
“We have our plans for tomorrow’s match, and we will try to execute those plans on the ground. It is our first match of the season, and we hope that we can start the season well. We love playing in front of fans, in front of full stadiums which, I think, will be a motivation for us to play,” he said.
Speaking about the opposition, Dilmperis added, “Jamshedpur is a very good team. They have a good all-round team. We are not focused on one player because it will make us lose our focus on the others.”
Goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh echoed the positive mood within the squad.
“The team have been working hard and the mood in the dressing room is very good. As coach said, we have a plan for tomorrow, and are working on it. We are confident that we will get a positive result at the end of the match.” With Jamshedpur FC seeking to maintain control at home and Punjab FC aiming for a strong start, the evening fixture is expected to be a closely contested affair.
