Can the women repeat history?

Bangladesh and India women's national football teams are set to engage in a high voltage melee in Group-A in the ongoing SAFF Women's Championship 2024 today (Wednesday) at 5:45 pm (BST) at the Dasharath Rangasala in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Interestingly, the women in red and green outfits secured the knockout stage of the previous edition of the same tournament in 2022 beating the Indian rivals by 3-0 at the same Dasharath Rangasala. 

Considering the outcome, today's Group-A match is probably the most vital match of the tournament. As this match result will indicate towards the line-up of the final match. If Bangladesh can win or at least manage a draw against India today, the team will get ticket to the knockout stage. But a defeat will result elimination from the tournament from the group stage. That is not expected from the current champions. 
But the first match this time didn't give a good indication as Bangladesh could not defeat Pakistan there. The women went to backfoot digesting a goal in the first half but managed to restore parity before the long whistle. Still that was not a good opening. 

Bangladesh became champion of the tournament following a 3-1 win over the host Nepal in 2022. It will definitely be a challenge to keep the trophy this time.