Gabriel Quak (left) has been in good form for the Sailors

SINGAPORE, 20 NOVEMBER 2020 – The AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) continues this weekend with a blockbuster clash between title contenders Lion City Sailors and Albirex Niigata (S). Second-placed Tampines Rovers will look to capitalise as they visit Tanjong Pagar United, while Geylang International and Hougang United face off in a possible pivotal clash to determine fourth place. Balestier Khalsa will also host Young Lions. All LIVE on our Facebook page and YouTube channel!

 

ALSO READ: Week 11 Roundup

 

Cheetahs wary of nemesis Fareez
Geylang International vs Hougang United | 21 Nov | 5.30pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

Fareez Farhan will look to continue his excellent scoring record against Hougang

Team news: Club top scorer Khairul Nizam is a doubt for Geylang due to a hamstring problem. As for Hougang, Shawal Anuar is a doubt while Sahil Suhaimi (anterior cruciate ligament) and Naufal Azman (hairline fracture in knee) have already been ruled out for this season. The good news though is that Shahfiq Ghani is available again after serving a one-match suspension.

 

Facts

• The two league encounters at OTH in 2019 ended in draws – Hougang came from behind to get a point on both occasions.
• Hougang have won just one out of the last six encounters in all competitions, conceding at least once in each of those.
• Hougang’s last clean sheet against Geylang was in a 3-0 win at Bedok in August 2018 – current Eagle Fareez Farhan was amongst the scorers, while Hougang’s Anders Aplin was on the opposite side then.
• Geylang have scored the opening goal against Hougang for the last four encounters.
• The last goal-less draw between both sides was in March 2015 at Bedok – Yuki Ichikawa was the only Geylang starter from that game who is still at the club while late substitute Shawal is now with the Cheetahs. Ridhuan Barudin and Faiz Salleh were in the opposite starting eleven.
• Hougang have kept just one clean sheet from 12 competitive games in all competitions this season.
• Fareez scored six goals for Geylang in three appearances against Hougang in 2019.
• Fareez has scored on his last five starts against the Cheetahs and was on the losing side only once – the Young Lions’ 3-1 loss at Jalan Besar in March 2016.

 

Tigers out to rediscover roar
Balestier Khalsa vs Young Lions | 21 Nov | 5.30pm | Bishan | Singtel Ch 113, StarHub Ch 201

Shuhei Hoshino will look to end his goal drought

Team news: Balestier will continue to miss Serbian centre-back Ensar Brunčević due to a knee problem. As for Young Lions, wide man Shahib Masnawi is suspended but key midfielders Hami Syahin and Nur Adam Abdullah are back for selection.

 

Facts

• There has been a winner in the last eight encounters, with the last draw being a 0-0 in June 2017 at Jalan Besar.
• Balestier have gone three games without a win since a five-game unbeaten run prior to that, while Young Lions have lost four in a row since defeating Tanjong Pagar 2-1.
• Balestier have conceded the first goal of the game in their last four outings, while Young Lions has conceded first in all four away games this season.
• There has been at least three goals in each of Balestier’s four home games in 2020.
• Young Lions are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

 

Stags eye goals
Tanjong Pagar United vs Tampines Rovers | 22 Nov | 5.30pm | Jurong East | Singtel Ch 113, StarHub Ch 201

Zehrudin Mehmedovic pulls all the strings for Tampines

Team news: Tampines will have to make do without full-back Syahrul Sazali and midfielder Huzaifah Aziz for the rest of the campaign due to National Service and injury respectively. Meanwhile, Tanjong Pagar have winger Ignatius Ang out for the season.

 

Facts

• Jordan Webb netted a brace in a 2-0 win when both sides met earlier this season at OTH.
• Tanjong Pagar last defeated Tampines in August 2014 in a 1-0 victory at Clementi – Tampines assistant coach Fahrudin Mustafic captained the Stags while Tanjong Pagar team manager Noh Alam Shah came on as a half-time substitute.
• Tanjong Pagar’s last home victory over the Stags came in May 2013 in a 1-0 win at Queenstown.
• Tanjong Pagar are waiting for their first win since October 2014.
• Tampines have scored in 29 straight SPL games.

 

Sailors look for revenge
Lion City Sailors vs Albirex Niigata (S) | 22 Nov | 5.30pm | Bishan | StarHub Ch 202

Kazuki Hashioka created the winner the last time Albirex met the Sailors

Team news: The Sailors may not risk Stipe Plazibat after the league’s top scorer suffered a hamstring injury in the 3-1 midweek win over Hougang, but South Korean midfielder Song Uiyoung should have recovered in time for this.

 

In contrast, Albirex should stick to their tried-and-trusted starting eleven as forward Reo Nishiguchi continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

 

Facts

• In the Sailors’ previous identity as Home United, they have not beaten Albirex in their last seven encounters in all competitions at Bishan with the White Swans coming from behind to claim point(s) on three of those occasions.
• Albirex’s last defeat at Bishan came in a 3-1 loss in October 2016 – Kamata started for the visitors, while Song Uiyoung and Aqhari Abdullah were in Home’s starting eleven.
• Albirex have scored in their last 16 visits to Bishan since a 2-0 defeat on June 26, 2008.
• Sailors and Albirex are the first two teams to win three successive matches this season.
• Albirex have kept three straight clean sheets.
• The Sailors have conceded one goal in each of their last four matches.
• The Sailors have the most number of different scorers with 11.
• The Sailors have scored in the second half for seven straight games.
• The Sailors have scored within the first 15 minutes and outscored their opponents in each half for their last three matches.
• Adam Swandi is the only player to score for both sides in this fixture – he scored for Home in a 1-1 league draw at Bishan in September 2017 and for Albirex in a 3-2 Singapore Cup semi-final first leg win at Jurong East 12 months later.

 

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