Aizawl FC v Bengaluru FC
How they got here
Aizawl enter this tie as the I-League champions, and having beaten Bengaluru 5-3 on aggregate in the quarterfinals of the Federation Cup last year.
Aizawl have since maintained their momentum, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Chennai City, before snatching a last-gasp winner against Churchill Brothers. Laldanmawia Ralte, the winger who got that goal, continues to be the overall top scorer for the tournament with three goals. In Aizawl's last match against East Bengal, the head coach Khalid Jamil fielded an all-Mizo lineup and rested several key players, eventually coming away with a point from a goalless draw.
Bengaluru have had a slightly trickier path to the last four. They were coasting along at 2-0 against Shillong Lajong in the opening game, before making hard work of a 3-2 win. A 2-0 defeat to DSK Shivajians saw them then fall behind in the race to the semifinals, and their hopes were revived only when Lajong beat Shivajians 3-2 in their last match, meaning Bengaluru could go through with a draw. A 1-1 draw against Mohun Bagan - the teams' fourth encounter in less than two months - was enough to see Albert Roca's team through.
Key battles
Bengaluru will be hampered by the absence of their captain Sunil Chhetri, who suffered a muscle strain on Friday that might see him sit out for a few weeks. As a result, a lot of the attacking burden might fall on the shoulders of Cornell Glen, who picked up the Federation Cup last year with Mohun Bagan.
Tactically, Jamil likes to play a fluid midfield ahead of a back four, and how Roca's favoured 3-4-3 hopes to cancel out the pace and verve of Laldanmawia and Brandon Vanlalremdika could be one of the battles worth watching out for.
Mohun Bagan v East Bengal
How they got here
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will be clashing for the 318th time in their history, but Sunday's encounter will be only the ninth instance of the two teams meeting outside Kolkata since 2000. Both teams are unbeaten in the tournament; East Bengal enter the semis with two draws and a victory, while Mohun Bagan topped their group following two wins and a draw.
Bagan come into this game knowing that their chances of advancement in the AFC Cup, where they will host Bengaluru in Kolkata on May 17, are over and hence will want to sign off the domestic season by retaining the Federation Cup. Sony Norde has been impressive in all the matches, even scoring one of the goals of the tournament with a direct free-kick against Shillong Lajong. On the other hand, Jeje Lalpekhlua has had only one goal thus far, and failed to make the most of a start in the final game against Bengaluru, meaning he could again be left out of the XI on Sunday.
For East Bengal, their attacking trio of Robin Singh, Willis Plaza and Wedson Anselme have all been in good form, impressing in each of the three games so far.
Key battles
East Bengal have had one extra day to recover, and that might be pivotal in the hot and humid conditions that have prevailed in Cuttack. After flirting with more attacking formations in the last few matches of the I-League, Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen has gone back to placing two defensive midfielders to screen the back four, and that might be the case again on Sunday.
East Bengal's coach Ranjan Chowdhury has begun well since being handed the reins, with the team scoring 10 goals and conceding just two in the last five matches, suggesting that Bagan may not find it easy breaching the back-line.
Derbies often become an occasion for temperament to rise above talent, and that is where the experienced professionals on either side will need to step in and make the difference. With every chance that the game stretches beyond 90 minutes, both goalkeepers could have their hands full.