SINGAPORE: Defending champions Buriram United FC host a pivotal Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup clash against last season’s runners-up Cong An Hanoi FC on Wednesday (Dec 3) in Group A of the 2025/26 campaign, with both teams needing a win to invigorate their hopes of a berth in the knockout rounds.
The teams played out an unforgettable 5-5 aggregate draw across two legs in the inaugural decider in May, with Buriram United taking the trophy in a penalty shoot-out, and the upcoming meeting carries considerable significance as the group phase reaches the halfway stage.
Buriram United have yet to win in the 2025/26 Shopee Cup, having registered draws against Selangor FC and BG Pathum United FC to sit in fifth place in the six-team Group A standings on two points, trailing Cong An Hanoi by a point.
The V.League 1 outfit has only managed to do slightly better in the current campaign, opening with a 2-1 loss to BG Pathum United before picking up a late 1-0 win over DH Cebu FC from the Philippines to occupy fourth place.
Mano Polking’s team are a point behind Group A leaders Selangor FC, who go into their meeting with DH Cebu FC at Manila’s Rizal Memorial Stadium unbeaten and with interim coach Christophe Gamel at the helm.
“What makes this kind of game really interesting is that we know one of us will be killed by the end,” says Polking. “We hope that will not be us because Buriram have had the same bad start as us. Only two teams go to the next round, so I believe neither of the two teams can lose the game.”
Frenchman Gamel replaced Katsuhito Kinoshi soon after his side’s 4-2 win over Tampines Rovers FC from Singapore on Matchday 2, and he has taken over a team that leads the standings on goal-difference from BGPathum United.
The Thai League 1 side will travel to Singapore in the remaining clash in Group A, with coach Masatada Ishii making his first appearance on the sidelines in the competition after replacing Anthony Hudson at the end of October.
In Group B, leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim FC will travel to Cambodia to take on PKR Svay Rieng FC in Phnom Penh on Thursday, holding a two-point lead over Matt McConkey’s side after opening the competition with victories over Lion City Sailors FC and Bangkok United FC.
Svay Rieng made a positive start to their campaign against Myanmar’s Shan United FC in August before losing to Vietnam’s Nam Định FC a month later and face Xisco Muñoz’s Malaysia Super League champions attempting to return to winning ways.
Bangkok United host Lion City Sailors in Pathum Thani, as they attempt to bounce back from their 4-0 loss to JDT in Johor, while Shan United face Nam Định in Yangon, looking to claim their first points of the 2025/26 campaign.
Hariss Harun, who captained Singapore to a historic qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup recently, will be keen to secure a first win of the campaign for Lion City Sailors and get his team back on track for a berth in the knockout stage after losing their opening match to JDT.
The Shopee Cup 2025/26 Matchday 3 fixtures are as follows:
WEDNESDAY (Dec 3): A BURIRAM UNITED FC (THA) v CONG AN HANOI FC (VIE) Buriram Stadium, Thailand; TAMPINES ROVERS FC (SIN) v BG PATHUM UNITED FC (THA) Bishan Stadium, Singapore: DH CEBU FC (PHI) v SELANGOR FC (MAS) Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila.
THURSDAY (Dec 4): BANGKOK UNITED FC (THA) v LION CITY SAILORS FC (SIN) Pathum Thani Stadium, Pathum Thani; PKR SVAY RIENG FC (CAM) v JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM FC (MAS) Morodok Techno National Stadium, Phnom Penh; SHAN UNITED FC (MYA) v NAM DINH FC (VIE) Thuwanna Stadium, Yangon.
