The three important I-League fixtures on Saturday could have an important bearing on the title chase, which at present is being played out among East Bengal, Aizawl FC and Mohun Bagan.
All the three teams will be in action, as Aizawl host Mumbai FC, East Bengal travel away to Shillong Lajong and Mohun Bagan will take on Churchill Brothers in Goa. ESPN runs you through all the possible outcomes that could affect the points table, which currently has East Bengal on top with 24 points, followed by Aizawl with 23 and Mohun Bagan with 21 (but with two matches in hand).
For East Bengal to stay top
Three obvious outcomes that will see East Bengal retaining their top position are if they, Aizawl and Mohun Bagan all have the same result in their respective matches. East Bengal would move up to 27 -- that would keep them on top even if Aizawl and Mohun Bagan win both their matches.
Similarly, if they draw, they must hope that Aizawl do no better than drawing their game at home to Mumbai, which will keep them on top. Even if Mohun Bagan win their game away to Churchill, that will still keep East Bengal on top, one point ahead of Bagan's 24.
If East Bengal lose, they would ideally need both Aizawl and Mohun Bagan to lose their respective games. If Aizawl even draw their match, they will go ahead of East Bengal because of a superior head-to-head, having drawn one and won the other game against East Bengal this season, which takes precedence over goal difference as the first differentiating factor. Mohun Bagan drew their only match with East Bengal, and have a goal difference that is four goals inferior to East Bengal's. Hence they will either need a huge win themselves, or will hope East Bengal are beaten by a big margin, in which case they too could join East Bengal on 24 points, and get ahead of them on goal difference.