East Bengal aim to carry their strong ISL form into Asia as they take on Al-Seeb, seeking their first ACL Two win after a defeat against Al-Shorta and a draw with Al-Hussein.

East Bengal FC have started their ISL title defence in impressive fashion, but their performances in Asia tell a different story. After winning their first two league matches by a combined score of 9-1, Antonio Lopez Habas’ side will travel to Oman to face Al-Seeb Club on Tuesday, October 27, knowing that they need a result in the AFC Champions League Two.

The Red and Gold Brigade began their continental campaign with a 3-1 defeat against Al-Shorta before being held to a 2-2 draw by Al-Hussein. They have shown that they can score goals, but the results have not gone their way so far. The match against Al-Seeb gives them another chance to put that right.

ISL victories bring confidence, but Asia is a different challenge

There has been little to complain about in East Bengal’s opening two ISL outings. They thrashed Churchill Brothers FC 4-0 in Goa and followed it up with a 5-1 win over Inter Kashi FC in Pune. More importantly, the goals have come from different players, giving Habas several options in attack.

Dani Ramirez and Vishnu PV were among the scorers against Inter Kashi, while Ake Arnaud Loba struck twice. Lukasz Zwolinski also marked his ISL debut with a goal after coming off the bench. For a side juggling domestic and continental commitments, having several players contributing in the final third will be encouraging.

Ramirez believes the team’s togetherness has been central to its early success. The Spaniard, who has scored the opening goal four times this season, spoke about the spirit within the dressing room and the role Habas has played in building it. He also made it clear that the demanding schedule would not be an excuse as East Bengal prepare for their trip to Oman.

Vishnu, who scored his first goal of the ISL season against Inter Kashi, has also spoken about the confidence he has received from the coach. The winger will now be keen to carry that form into the continental competition.

East Bengal need more than attacking firepower in Oman

The challenge against Al-Seeb will be different from the two ISL matches. East Bengal have scored nine goals in their opening league fixtures, but their continental results suggest that there is still work to do. The defeat against Al-Shorta and the draw with Al-Hussein have left them searching for their first win in the group stage.

Loba, who made his first start for the club against Inter Kashi, sees the Oman fixture as an opportunity to make up for those results. His performance in Pune, where he scored twice and was involved in four of East Bengal’s five goals, will give the coaching staff reason to be optimistic. The forward, however, knows that the team must turn its performances into points in Asia.
Zwolinski will also be looking to build on his promising start. The Polish striker credited Chris Ikonomidis for the assist behind his goal against Inter Kashi and said that regular playing time would help him adjust to the conditions in Indian football.

East Bengal will have to balance that attacking ambition with greater control at the back. Their recent results have lifted the mood around the club, but the job in Oman will not be straightforward, especially with the travel and tight turnaround between fixtures.
For Habas and his players, the priority is clear: bring their ISL confidence into the ACL Two and finally get a win on the board. Another missed opportunity would make their task in the group stage considerably harder.