The first meeting gave both sides plenty of entries and finished scoreless. East Bengal produced repeated box shots, while Al Seeb's left-side service brought pressure without a clean central finish. The return at East Bengal's ground changes the likely early initiative. First contact in the box and the next attacking wave should decide this rematch.
Rashid and Ramirez can supply East Bengal's runners before Al Seeb's block settles, and Lalhlansanga has already finished twice at this competition level against Al Shorta. Busaidi delivered repeatedly for Al Seeb in the first meeting, but Meye had only one off-target attempt across the match; East Bengal's centre-backs and Lachenpa handled the sharper contacts. Mahesh and Rakip are reported injured, and neither appeared in the first meeting, while Lalhlansanga played meaningful minutes there. East Bengal's home tempo can turn its earlier box entries into a clean finish and another wave after Al Seeb's response. That's why I'm siding with East Bengal.
