Balestier Khalsa and Geylang International players in action, 12 April 2023.

 

SINGAPORE, 22 JUNE 2023 – The 2023 SPL returns with a mega matchweek starting this Friday. Six fixtures are lined up for the next six days, starting with a clash between Balestier Khalsa and Geylang International.

 

Saturday will see two games, the first being a matchup between the bottom two sides, Brunei DPMM and Young Lions. Both sides will be hoping for a turn in fortune and to return to winning ways. Elsewhere, Tanjong Pagar United face a tough challenge in the form of Albirex Niigata (S), who aim to cement their spot at the top of the table.

 

Though their win streak has come to an end, Hougang United will be eager to snatch away three points from the Lion City Sailors on Sunday to continue their rise up the standings. Meanwhile, the White Swans will be getting ready for their next match against Tampines Rovers, where a win will be crucial for them to get ahead in the title race.

 

Matchweek 17 ends on Wednesday when Brunei DPMM matches up against Geylang International, with both sides hoping to return to the win column once again.

 

ALL LIVE on our YouTube channel and meWATCH!

 

Tigers look to build momentum

Balestier Khalsa vs Geylang International | 23 June | 7.45pm | Bishan Stadium | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

 

Team news for Balestier: Puvan Raj (knee), Mukundan Maran (knee) and Aidil Johari (shoulder) are out injured.

Team news for Geylang: Amirul Adli (ankle) and Huzaifah Aziz (ACL) are out injured.

 

Facts

• Since renaming to Geylang International FC in 2013, the Eagles have beaten the Tigers 16 times out of 35 meetings since the 2013 S.League season.
• Eagles midfielder Takahiro Tezuka has played every minute since joining the SPL with Albirex Niigata (S) in 2021.
• Balestier Khalsa have not recorded a clean sheet this season.
• If Balestier Khalsa win this Friday, they will match their total of 24 points last season in 13 less fixtures this season.

Balestier Khalsa’s Daniel Goh in action against Tanjong Pagar United, 11 June 2023.

 

Both sides hoping for a turn in fortune
Brunei DPMM vs Young Lions | 24 June | 6.00pm | Jalan Besar Stadium | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

Facts

• Brunei DPMM have drawn with Young Lions in six of their last 10 matches in the SPL.
• Brunei DPMM last recorded a four-match losing streak in the SPL on July 2017 and needed six more matches before they secured a win. 
• Centre-forward Hakeme Yazid Said has been Brunei DPMM’s only goalscorer during their current four-match losing streak, achieving two braces in the past four games. 
• If Young Lions win on Saturday, they will match their total point tally last season in 13 less matches.

 

Young Lions’ Harhys Stewart in action against Lion City Sailors, 10 June 2023.

 

Jaguars aim for consistency
Albirex Niigata (S) vs Tanjong Pagar United | 24 June | 6.00pm | Jurong East Stadium | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 202

 

Team news for Tanjong Pagar: Pedro Henrique is back from injury.

 

Facts

• Albirex Niigata (S) and Tanjong Pagar United have the greatest number of unique goalscorers so far this season. The White Swans have 11 different goalscorers, while the Jaguars have 10.
• Since returning to the SPL in 2020, the Jaguars have beaten Albirex Niigata (S) three times, drawn twice and lost five times.
• Centre-back Shakir Hamzah has 11 goal involvements in 29 games with the Jaguars, the greatest number across the six clubs he has played for in his career.
• Albirex Niigata (S) tie with Tampines Rovers for the most clean sheets so far this season, recording eight clean sheets in 13 matches.

 

Albirex Niigata (S) players celebrating a goal against Brunei DPMM, 11 June 2023.

 

Tough test for the Sailors
Lion City Sailors vs Hougang United | 25 June | 6.00pm | Bishan Stadium | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

 

Team news for Sailors: Súper (Manuel Herrera López) is back fit, and Diego Lopes is back from injury after missing the last game.

Team news for Hougang: Anders Aplin is still sidelined with a dislocated elbow injury while Fairoz Hasan is suspended. Shahdan Sulaiman and Dorde Maksimovic are eligible for selection.

 

Facts

• Hougang United conceded the most goals to the Lion City Sailors last season, including a 4-9 defeat on Matchweek 22.
• Cheetahs midfielder Kristijan Krajcek was the only player to record at least one goal involvement in each match of the club’s record-breaking four-match winning streak.
• Lion City Sailors are the only side that has not lost at home this season.
• Only two players have cracked double digits in assist so far this season, Sailors winger Maxime Lestienne and Sailors midfielder Diego Lopes, combining for 23 asissts in 14 matches.

 

Lion City Sailors’ Lionel Tan in action against Young Lions, 10 June 2023.

 

Race for first place
Tampines Rovers vs Albirex Niigata (S) | 27 June | 7.45pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

 

Facts

• The two clubs first played against each other in the 2004 S.League. Since then, Tampines Rovers has beaten Albirex Niigata (S) 31 times, drawn 13 times and lost 23 times across all competitions.
• Stags forward Boris Kopitovic has attempted the most penalty shots so far this season, four penalties in 14 games, and has maintained a perfect penalty record.
• Stags winger Joel Chew has a career-high of five assists so far this season and is currently third on the assist charts.
• The White Swans currently have a goal difference of +35, which is more than double that of the Stags who hold a goal difference of +17.

 

Tampines Rovers’ Boris Kopitovic in action against Hougang United, 10 June 2023.

 

 

Eagles aim for a bounce back
Geylang International vs Brunei DPMM | 28 June | 7.45pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

 

Team news for Geylang: Amirul Adli (ankle) and Huzaifah Aziz (ACL) are out injured.

 

Facts

• Geylang International have won thrice, drawn twice, and lost five times to Brunei DPMM in their past 10 fixtures.
• Eagles winger Yushi Yamaya currently leads the club in goals and assists, scoring five goals and assisting four more in 13 games. 
• Brunei DPMM won all their games against two clubs during the 2019 SPL season, one of which being the Eagles.
• Both teams have scored 21 times so far this season. They have both scored 13 goals in home games and eight goals in away games.

 

Brunei DPMM’s Azwan Ali in action against Albirex Niigata (S), 11 June 2023.

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!