The draft fixtures for the 2013-14 I-League has been sent to all I-League clubs and the biggest attraction of the opening weekend will be the first-ever top flight Shillong derby between Shillong Lajong and newly-promoted Rangdajied United, Sportskeeda can reveal.
All clubs have been asked to revert by Friday but as per the draft, this season’s I-League will start from September 21. Since there are odd number (15) of teams, one club in each round won’t be in action and for round one it will be East Bengal who would get a much needed breather as they play their two-legged AFC Cup quarter-final against Indonesia’s Semen Padang on September 17 and 24.
East Bengal will open their campaign in round two with a home fixture against Mumbai Tigers on Sunday, September 29.
Champions Churchill Brothers begin their defence with a home match against Mohun Bagan while newly-entered Bengaluru FC’s first match in the top flight will be against Dempo in Bangalore. Another newly-entered club Mumbai Tigers entertain Pune FC in their first-ever I-League fixture.
Mohammedan Sporting’s first I-League match in four years will be an away tie against Sporting Clube de Goa.
Until the weekend of January 11 2014, the only breaks in the I-League will be for Federation Cup fixtures but after Sunday January 12, there will be an almost three-month break for IMG-Reliance’s proposed IPL-style tournament.
The league will again resume on the weekend of April 5 and continue till the end of May with the last round of fixtures scheduled for the weekend of May 24-25.
As per the draft fixtures, I-League football is expected to return to Mumbai from April 2014 as the Cooperage Stadium is expected to be ready by then. Until January 2014 though, the two Mumbai clubs – Mumbai FC and Mumbai Tigers – will be playing their home matches at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.
Goan clubs will play their home matches at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa until the first week of November. But the Tilak Maidan in Vasco is expected to be the home venue of the Goan teams from the last week of November onwards.
In rounds where two Kolkata clubs play at home on the same day, one fixture will take place at the Salt Lake Stadium with the other at the newly-renovated Barasat Stadium.
The big Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are scheduled for October 26 and January 11.
Opening round draft fixtures (subject to change)
Saturday, September 21
Churchill Brothers vs Mohun Bagan Bengaluru FC vs Dempo United Sports Club vs Salgaocar
Sunday, September 22
Sporting Clube de Goa vs Mohammedan Sporting Mumbai Tigers vs Pune FC Shillong Lajong vs Rangdajied United Pailan Arrows vs Mumbai FC
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