ATK Mohun Bagan are back in action in the AFC Cup where they will face Malaysian side Kuala Lumpur City FC. The match, set to take place on 7th September at the Salt Lake Stadium, will be to fight for a place in the Inter-Zonal playoff final which will be played on 5th October. The Mariners are still in pre-season mode and haven’t had the best of form in the Durand Cup. With Juan Ferrando craving for success at the continental stage, they’ll have to take their performance level up a few notches.
Recent Form
ATK Mohun Bagan – After consolidating themselves as one of the top teams in the Indian Super League (ISL), ATKMB are hoping to build a similar reputation across Asia. They’ve come up short in the last few seasons at the continental stage. However, they’re determined to prove that they can move past that Inter-Zonal playoff barrier. To do that, they’ll have to win the semi-final first. It won’t be the easiest, because Kuala Lumpur City has been performing decently in its domestic setup and are on a game-winning spree.
That being said, the Mariners still boast a really strong squad with experienced, quality foreigners. They are more expensive and better built than the City Boys. The pressure will be high, as a loss can cause a lot of humiliation. The Kolkata side must show grit and character to plow through the challenge and get a big win.

Kuala Lumpur City FC – The Malaysian side have exceeded a lot of expectations in reaching the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal semi-finals. They booked a place in the game by defeating Indonesian side PSM Makassar. Kuala Lumpur City FC are well aware that they aren’t the favorites to win this and will start as underdogs – a challenge they have accepted pretty well in this campaign. Kuala Lumpur City are probably under less pressure than ATKMB because they have no home advantage like the Mariners.
But the City Boys boast a pretty strong side with some quality foreigners like Paulo Josue and Giancarlo Gallifuoco, who can help push them through the game. The chance to represent their country in the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal playoff makes it an important one for Kuala Lumpur, one they’ll look to grind out with a win.

Team News
ATK Mohun Bagan – The Mariners are heading into the game with a fully fit squad. That means they have all their foreigners to choose from, which is bound to create a few selection headaches for coach Juan Ferrando.
Kuala Lumpur City FC – The visitors had a few injury problems before the game, with 3-4 players lacking fitness. But it’s been confirmed that they have recovered and should be available to feature for Bojan Hodak’s side, if necessary.
Head-To-Head Records
This will be the first ever encounter between the ISL side ATK Mohun Bagan and MSL side Kuala Lumpur City FC. While the Mariners from Kolkata are playing in the AFC Cup for their second time (Since the merger between ATK and Mohun Bagan). Meanwhile, the City Boys from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are playing their debut campaign in the AFC Cup.
Probable Starting Lineups


IFTWC’s Match Predictions
It will be the first head-to-head meeting between these teams, and we believe that ATK Mohun Bagan will manage to justify the home ground advantage, but Kuala Lumpur are also expected to show its teeth. ATK Mohun Bagan has demonstrated a productive attack during this year’s AFC Cup, and it should be noted that each of their five games in this tournament have contained at least 4 goals, which is a really impressive number.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur City is one of the most efficient teams in the Malaysian Super League (3.1 goals average), and a convincing 5-2 triumph over PSM Makar proves this team’s great attacking prowess. So, we expect a “lowered guard” match from both sides. Both teams are facing a lack of defensive consistency, so we believe it will be a compelling duel. Kuala Lumpur City have already popped up with some surprises this edition and can pull off the same if given a chance.

The Inter-Zonal Semi-Finals match between ATK Mohun Bagan and Kuala Lumpur City FC should be a closely-fought, intense game in which the more productive side will reign supreme and qualify for the Inter-Zonal Finals of the 2022 AFC Cup.
IFTWC predicts a victory for ATK Mohun Bagan. We expect the Mariners to defeat the City Boys by a 2-1 scoreline!
Match Details And Telecast News
Fixture: ATK Mohun Bagan VS Kuala Lumpur City FC (2022 AFC Cup Inter-Zonal Semi-Finals)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Date and Kickoff Time: 7th September from 7 PM onwards
Streaming Platform: Disney+Hotstar App/Website and Jio TV
Telecast Channel: Star Sports 3 and Star Sports Select 1/2 Channels
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