isl has handed Bengaluru FC a timely lift before Thursday’s trip to Kolkata, with Braian Sanchez now available for the match against East Bengal after his suspension was revoked. The decision follows a review by the All India Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee, which changed the straight red card from Bengaluru’s previous game against Kerala Blasters into a yellow card. The club will travel to the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Eastern Time terms for a high-stakes away fixture that could shape the table at this stage of the truncated ISL 2025-26 season.
Red card rescinded after review
Sanchez had been sent off in the 34th minute of Bengaluru’s last match for violent conduct, a dismissal that left the team at a numerical disadvantage in a 1-2 home defeat. The club later confirmed that its appeal was successful and that the midfielder’s suspension had been lifted. isl now becomes part of Bengaluru’s immediate preparation, with the player available for selection after already making 11 appearances this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.
That is a significant development for a side that is fifth in the standings after eight rounds. Bengaluru travel to Kolkata level on points with East Bengal, but the hosts are placed higher because of goal difference and have played one fewer match.
East Bengal and Bengaluru arrive in contrasting form
Both teams come into the meeting with recent results that sharpen the stakes. Bengaluru are looking to recover from their defeat to Kerala Blasters, while East Bengal are riding momentum after winning away from home against Chennaiyin FC. East Bengal’s recent run also includes a four-game unbeaten sequence, which has added weight to Thursday’s contest.
Muñoz highlighted the challenge facing his team, pointing to East Bengal’s attacking options and the chances they have created this season. Suresh Singh Wangjam also stressed the importance of handling the atmosphere in Kolkata and staying calm under pressure. The available return of isl gives Bengaluru another option in midfield at a moment when control in the middle of the pitch could prove decisive.
What the team news means
There was also a small fitness note from the visiting camp, with Monirul Molla having an upset stomach, while the rest of the squad was described as fit and ready. That keeps the focus on the main competitive issue: how Bengaluru respond after a setback and whether East Bengal can use home conditions to extend their strong run.
With both clubs locked closely together in the table, the margin for error is thin. isl now has an added subplot as Bengaluru look to turn a disciplinary reversal into a performance lift, and the next few hours will reveal whether that boost translates into points in Kolkata.
