With five defeats in their last six matches, East Bengal are just three points above the relegation zone after the half-way stage of the I-League 2019-20 season.
The Red and Golds started the new year with three consecutive defeats then came back briefly with a convincing 2-0 win over Chennai City but they once again suffered back to back home defeats against Indian Arrows and Aizawl FC.
It must be noted that this was only the second game where Mario Rivera sat on the dugout as the club’s head coach.