A tantalising ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup showdown awaits on Thursday (23 January) night as the Lion City Sailors host reigning Thai League 1 champions Buriram United in a pivotal Matchday Four clash at the Jalan Besar Stadium. 

A mammoth task

Make no mistake, this is the Sailors’ toughest hurdle in the competition so far, with Buriram widely regarded as one of the best sides in Southeast Asia – they have not finished outside the top two in their domestic league since 2016, and have claimed the last three Thai League 1 titles.

The Thai powerhouse are overwhelming favourites to make it four league titles in a row this season – they currently sit eight points clear of second-placed Bangkok United with 12 games to go. 

A recent first defeat of the season to Bangkok United only seemed to ignite them, as they responded with emphatic 8-0 and 9-0 victories over 13th-placed Chiangrai United and bottom side Khon Kaen United, respectively, in the lead-up to this upcoming match against the Sailors.

The statistics back up their fearsome reputation — Buriram have scored an astounding 63 goals while conceding just eight in 18 league matches this season, and their remarkable goal difference of +55 towers over the next best, Bangkok United’s +15.

Alongside the Sailors, Buriram are one of only two Southeast Asian teams still competing on two regional fronts, balancing campaigns in both the AFC Champions League (ACL) and the Shopee Cup, in addition to their domestic commitments.

In the ongoing ACL Elite group stage, they have secured impressive victories over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners and Korea’s Pohang Steelers.

As for the Shopee Cup, they rebounded from an opening 2-1 defeat to Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội (CAHN) FC with dominant 7-0 and 4-0 wins over the Philippines’ Kaya FC–Iloilo and Indonesia’s Borneo FC Samarinda. These results meant they now hold the crucial second spot in Group B as they aim to claim the inaugural title.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Buriram Head Coach Osmar Loss Vieira outlined his team’s ambitions in the competition, while cautioning against underestimating the Sailors.

“This competition is very different, and we know we have a big challenge here in Singapore. We must remember that different competitions require different approaches to win,” said the 49-year-old Brazilian, who has guided Buriram to 21 wins and five draws in 30 games across all competitions since taking charge in June 2024.

“Playing away requires respect for the conditions. Of course, we know we need the result to achieve our goals, but it’s also important to understand the history that lies ahead of us.”

“It’s important to play safely and maintain control of the game. I think the Sailors have a good team shape, and they know how to play on artificial grass. This will be a challenge for us, but we cannot use it as an excuse because we are playing at a high level. I think it will be a good match between two strong teams, and I hope the fans enjoy the game.”

Buriram’s star-studded cast

The sheer quality within the Buriram ranks is enough to strike fear into opponents across the region. 

Leading the way is vice-captain Theerathon Bunmathan, who boasts 105 caps for Thailand and won the J1 League title in 2019 with Yokohama F. Marinos. He is joined by prominent names such as Neil Etheridge, the former Cardiff City goalkeeper with English Premier League experience, ex-Melbourne City defender Curtis Good, and Malaysia’s former Belgian Under-21 defender Dion Cools.

Up front, Buriram possess a formidable attacking trio. 

Suphachai Jaided — the Thai League’s top scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the past two seasons — is complemented by former São Paulo striker Guilherme Bissoli, who leads the Thai League 1 scoring charts with 19 goals in 18 matches. Joining them is fellow Brazilian Lucas Crispim, a former Vasco da Gama player and the current Shopee Cup top scorer with four goals in just two games.

While Buriram recently added seven new players to their roster earlier this month, including rising star Suphanat Mueanta, most of them will not feature in the Shopee Cup due to the tournament’s closed player registration period.

However, Osmar remains confident that his team has the quality to achieve their goals in the competition even without the new signings.

He elaborated, “We have a lot of foreign and Asian players, so selecting the right players to fit the regulations and quota was a challenge. Managing this, especially with so many games, requires us to work together. We need to carefully choose players for each competition to keep them fresh and minimise the risk of injuries. It’s our job to ensure the players remain safe and ready for the season ahead.

“I’m really happy with the team so far, but now, in the second half of the season, it’s important for us to maintain this level. That’s our challenge: to keep improving the way we play.”

Buriram captain Narubadin Weerawatnodom emphasised his team’s determination to win the Shopee Cup and establish themselves as the best in the region.

“The Shopee Cup is very important for us because we want to be the top team in Southeast Asia,” declared the two-time AFF Cup winner.

“It’s exciting for the players, and we know we have great experience and quality in the squad. There’s pressure on us, but we’re ready to handle it well. It will be an exciting game, and we will do our best.”

Sailors undaunted and up for the challenge 

The home side enters this tie as underdogs, but their qualification for the ACL Two Round of 16 and a strong start to 2025 have instilled belief that they can overcome the odds.

The Sailors have won all three of their games since the turn of the year, reigniting their Shopee Cup hopes with a 2-0 victory over Kuala Lumpur (KL) City and sweeping aside Brunei DPMM and Albirex Niigata (S) to move three points clear at the top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL).

Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković believes his team’s good run of form has instilled the confidence needed to go toe-to-toe with Buriram, a side he considers possibly the best in Southeast Asia.

“Coming into this game in good form is very important as it gives us a certain level of confidence, and you can see that all the players I’m using feel involved, which makes me happy,” said Ranko. “Our break wasn’t very long, especially for those who went away with the national team, so we haven’t lost much momentum.

“For me, Buriram are the best team in Southeast Asia. If you look at their squad, they’re dominating their league and performing well in the ACL. It’s a great challenge for my team, but we’ve proven over the last year and a half that we’re up to the task.”

Trailing Buriram and third-placed KL City by three points with two group matches remaining, the Sailors know they must win to keep their hopes of progressing to the last four alive. Defender Christopher van Huizen believes this is a challenge well within their capabilities.

“This is a very big challenge for us — they’re one of the best teams in Southeast Asia,” said the 32-year-old, who has featured in all 15 of the Sailors’ continental games (12 in the ACL and 3 in the Shopee Cup) since joining the club at the start of last season. 

“We’ve got good morale from winning our past few games, so we’re looking forward to the match. I think this competition is quite similar to the ACL Two.. We’re doing well, and they’re at the top, so it’s important for us to focus on who we are and what we’re capable of.”