Kolkata, July 24 -- East Bengal FC will take on Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Kolkata Derby on Saturday, July 25, as the two Kolkata giants open the 135th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

Asia's oldest football tournament could not have picked a bigger fixture to mark the occasion, handing its very first whistle of the season to the rivalry that defines Indian club football. The kick-off is scheduled for 17:00 IST, according to a release.

Start with the arithmetic of history, because in this rivalry the numbers are never just numbers. The Mariners walk into the tournament as its most decorated club, 17 Durand Cup titles deep, a tally no one else in the competition's long life has matched.

The Red and Gold Brigade ...