How can East Bengal qualify for knockout rounds of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two after Al-Seeb draw?
A win is mandatory for the torchbearers East Bengal failed to secure their first win of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two group stage, falling to a frustrating 0-0 draw with Al-Seeb. Both sides had their share of chances, but the Red & Gold Brigade were not clinical enough to convert their opportunities and earn all three points in Oman.
The draw also meant that East Bengal only have two points from their first three matches of the 2026-27 ACL Two group stages. Halfway through the group matches, they are still in a vulnerable position when it comes to their hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the competition.
That is because East Bengal are currently three points behind second-place Al-Hussein, with Al-Shorta topping the group with seven points. The Indian Super League (ISL) side absolutely needs to pick up their performances in the next few group games to bolster their chances of making their way to the knockout rounds of the competition.
But how exactly can East Bengal ensure qualification for the next rounds of the AFC Champions League Two? What does East Bengal need to do to qualify for the next round of the AFC Champions League Two?
East Bengal FC are set to host the Omani side. East Bengal cannot really afford to lose matches or drop points in their next three continental matches if they really aspire to secure a top-2 place in their group.
For Antonio Habas' side, the primary and immediate objective has to be for them to get a win over Al-Seeb in their upcoming match at the Salt Lake Stadium. That will not only result in their first win of the 2026-27 ACL Two but also enable them to get some confidence on their side.
However, things will only get trickier for the Kolkata giants after their match against Al-Seeb. Following that clash, they will be facing the toughest opponents of their groups with a home match against Al-Hussein - before finishing the group stages with an away clash against Al-Shorta.
Antonio Habas needs to prepare his side for two really tricky clashes in their final matches of the group campaign. They'll need to be defensively resilient and have to work hard as one solid unit to be able to pose a major threat to either of the two sides.
However, East Bengal cannot just accept a draw from those clashes. Indeed, the defending ISL champions need to look to win at least one of the two matches against Al-Hussein and Al-Shorta.