East Bengal, Mohun Bagan start favourites in IFA Shield

East Bengal will look to shrug off their Federation Cup disappointment when they kick off the IFA Shield campaign against South Korean club, Busan SunMoon FC, in a group I fixture at the Barasat Stadium tomorrow.
United Sikkim FC will face S-League side Geylang International in the second match of the day as the 118-year-old tournament this year will lack sheen without top I-League clubs who have preferred to skip the Shield for the top tier league.
In such a scenario, the three foreign clubs, the other being Sheikh Jamal Dhanmodi Club of Bangladesh, will be in the spotlight among the four city I-League clubs and second division side United Sikkim FC.

For East Bengal, who narrowly missed the semifinal cut in the just concluded Federation Cup in Kerala, the Shield will give the perfect setting before getting into the final phase of the I-League.
The Armando Colaco-coached side looked a little rusty after their local league win as they lost to arch rivals Mohun Bagan in the concluding match before slipping in the Federation Cup.
But skipper and inspirational play maker Mehtab Hossain is expected to return from an injury lay-off that will give the team a huge boost even as the team has injury woes of defender Uga Okpara.