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Move over Fatafati Football, the real deal is here. The oldest and most anticipated rivalry in Indian football, the year’s first East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby, is all set to take place on Saturday. This one's an I-League tie.

As any Kolkatan will tell you, this is a clash which divides a city. From time immemorial, the sort of feeling and passion that the derby invokes is legendary. Despite being the defending champions of the I-League, Mohun Bagan will be the team thirsting for revenge as the last time these two met in the Calcutta Football League in September, East Bengal ran out comprehensive 4-0 winners (video above).

One of their most famous meetings came in 1997, when a 131,000-strong crowd packed the Salt Lake Stadium to watch the semi-finals of the Federation Cup. Baichung Bhutia, then in his prime, scored a spectacular hat-trick as East Bengal romped home 4-1.

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Mohun Bagan have also had their share of massive wins. In 2009, they thrashed their rivals 5-3 in a high-scoring encounter which was duly celebrated by their fans.

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Nor have these clashes been devoid of violence. In 1980 during a derby at the Eden Gardens, violence overtook the game, with 16 fans losing their lives. And though things are a little calmer in the new millennium, things can always boil over – as they did in 2012 when Mohun Bagan player Syed Rahim Nabi had to be carried off (sportingly, by East Bengal players) with a bloodied face after being hit by a missile.

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