While most of Europe’s major leagues have already crowned their champions, one title race is still heading towards complete chaos.
Arsenal have already secured the Premier League title, while Barcelona reclaimed La Liga. Bayern Munich retained the Bundesliga, and Paris Saint-Germain dominated Ligue 1 once again.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan lifted Serie A and took the Scudetto back from Napoli. Across Europe, most title races are already over.
However, one league still heads into the final day with absolute madness. Incredibly, five different clubs can still become champions.
And among them is a sleeping giant trying to end a painful 22-year wait for league glory. That league is the Indian Super League, India’s top-flight football competition.
India is not traditionally known for football. In fact, FIFA currently rank the country 136th in the world rankings. Yet this ISL season has delivered pure cinematic drama heading into the final day.
This campaign was shortened because of uncertainty surrounding the league itself, while the All India Football Federation delayed the start of the season.
Even so, the drama has been so intense that it can genuinely rival the excitement of the Indian Premier League (the world’s biggest cricket franchise league).
At the moment, East Bengal sit top of the table on 23 points alongside fierce rivals Mohun Bagan.
The Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, famously known as the “Boro Match” or “Big Match,” remains the oldest football rivalry in Asia, with the first meeting played back in 1921.
So, heading into the final day, these two teams are at the top of the table, which is a great endorsement for football in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Meanwhile, Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC sit just one point behind on 22, while Jamshedpur FC still hold an outside chance with 21 points.
As a result, only two points separate first place from sixth heading into the final round of fixtures.
For East Bengal, the equation is simple. Beat Inter Kashi, and they become champions regardless of every other result.
That would finally end a 22-year wait for the title and trigger massive celebrations across Kolkata.
However, Inter Kashi already proved recently that they can influence the title race after holding Mohun Bagan to a goalless draw.
So if East Bengal fail to win, Mohun Bagan can retain the title by beating Sporting Delhi. At the same time, Punjab FC and Mumbai City face each other directly in a massive showdown.
Victory for either side would move them onto 25 points and instantly pile pressure on both Kolkata giants.
As for Jamshedpur, they require the most dramatic scenario of all. They must beat Odisha FC and hope East Bengal and Mohun Bagan both lose while Mumbai City and Punjab draw.
So while most leagues across world football have already celebrated their champions, the ISL now prepares for one final night of complete madness with five clubs still dreaming of lifting the trophy.
Want to get the latest transfer news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
