The 2015-16 edition of the I-League is almost upon us, and we will see nine teams go against each other in an exciting battle for the biggest title in Indian club football. The ninth season of the domestic football league kicks off on Saturday in Kolkata and Goa.
There will be a total of 18 rounds this time, and the league is scheduled to run for a span of four months.
Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan are the defending champions, whereas Aizawl FC and DSK Shivajians are the new entrants. In the inaugural encounter of the season, Bagan will host debutantes Aizawl FC at Salt Lake Stadium.
Last season went down as probably the best in the history of the I-League. The champions were decided on the final day of the season, and the script couldn't have been more dramatic. Bagan drew against Bengaluru FC to bring the trophy to the City of Joy for the first time.
"We've witnessed an enthralling I-League last season which kept us captivated till the final whistle on 31 May, 2015," AIFF General-Secretary Kushal Das said during the launch ceremony of the new I-League season in Kolkata on Wednesday.
"The teams will definitely try to push their limits this season, too, and strive hard to win the silverware. Champions Mohun Bagan can't show any signs of complacency as all eight teams will play out of their skins to dethrone them," Das added.
The winners this season will pocket a whopping Rs 1 crore, while the teams finishing second and third will win Rs 60 lakh and Rs 40 lakh, respectively.
TV listings of I-League: Ten Sports Network.
I-League schedule:
Round 1
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 9 Jan 2016 | Mohun Bagan | v | Aizawl FC | 4:30 pm IST | Salt Lake Stadium |
| 9 Jan 2016 | Salgaocar FC | v | Bengaluru FC | 7 pm IST | Fatorda Stadium |
| 10 Jan 2016 | Shillong Lajong | v | Mumbai FC | 4:30 pm IST | JLN Stadium, Shillong |
| 10 Jan 2016 | Sporting Goa | v | East Bengal | 4:30 pm IST | Fatorda Stadium |
Round 2
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 16 Jan 2016 | Aizawl FC | v | Bengaluru FC | 1 pm IST | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl |
| 16 Jan 2016 | Mohun Bagan | v | Salgaocar FC | 4:30 pm IST | Salt Lake Stadium |
| 17 Jan 2016 | Sporting Goa | v | DSK Shivajians | 4:30 pm IST | Fatorda Stadium |
| 17 Jan 2016 | Mumbai FC | v | East Bengal | 7 pm IST | Cooperage Ground |
Round 3
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 22 Jan 2016 | Aizawl FC | v | DSK Shivajians | TBD | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl |
| 23 Jan 2016 | Mohun Bagan | v | East Bengal | Salt Lake Stadium | |
| 24 Jan 2016 | Mumbai FC | v | Salgaocar FC | Cooperage | |
| 24 Jan 2016 | Bengaluru FC | v | Shillong Lajong | Kanteerava |
Round 4
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 25 Jan 2016 | Aizawl FC | v | Sporting Goa | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl | |
| 26 Jan 2016 | East Bengal | v | DSK Shivajians | Barasat Stadium | |
| 27 Jan 2016 | Mumbai FC | v | Bengaluru FC | Cooperage | |
| 28 Jan 2016 | Shillong Lajong | v | Salgaocar FC | JLN Stadium, Shillong |
Round 5
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 30 Jan 2016 | DSK Shivajians | v | Mohun Bagan | Balewadi Sports Complex | |
| 30 Jan 2016 | East Bengal | v | Bengaluru FC | Barasat Stadium | |
| 31 Jan 2016 | Shillong Lajong | v | Sporting Goa | JLN Stadium, Shillong | |
| 31 Jan 2016 | Salgaocar FC | v | Aizawl FC | Fatorda Stadium |
Round 6
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 5 Feb 2016 | East Bengal | v | Aizawl FC | Barasat Stadium | |
| 6 Feb 2016 | Bengaluru FC | v | Sporting Goa | Kanteerava | |
| 6 Feb 2016 | Mohun Bagan | v | Shillong Lajong | Barasat Stadium | |
| 7 Feb 2016 | DSK Shivajians | v | Mumbai FC | Balewadi Stadium |
Round 7
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 9 Feb 2016 | East Bengal | v | Shillong Lajong | Barasat Stadium | |
| 10 Feb 2016 | Bengaluru FC | v | DSK Shivajians | Kanteerava | |
| 10 Feb 2016 | Mumbai FC | v | Mohun Bagan | Cooperage | |
| 11 Feb 2016 | Sporting Goa | v | Salgaocar | Fatorda Stadium |
Round 8
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 13 Feb 2016 | Aizawl FC | v | Shillong Lajong | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl | |
| 13 Feb 2016 | Bengaluru FC | v | Mohun Bagan | Kanteerava | |
| 14 Feb 2016 | Sporting Goa | v | Mumbai FC | Fatorda Stadium | |
| 14 Feb 2016 | DSK Shivajians | v | Salgaocar FC | Balewadi Stadium |
Round 9
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Time | Venue | |
| 20 Feb 2016 | Aizawl FC | v | Mumbai FC | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl | |
| 20 Feb 2016 | Mohun Bagan | v | Sporting Goa | Barasat Stadium | |
| 21 Feb 2016 | DSK Shivajians | v | Shillong Lajong | Balewadi Stadium | |
| 24 Feb 2016 | East Bengal | v | Salgaocar FC | Barasat Stadium |
