Written by: Shawn Lim

Albirex Niigata (S) vs Geylang International
(Thursday, 22 September, 7.30pm, Jurong East Stadium)

Geylang International will resume their Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League duties when they pay league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) a visit at the Jurong East Stadium on Thursday night.

The Eagles are still in the hunt for a third-placed finish in the league table as the season comes to a close and will be keen to close the four-point gap between themselves and Brunei DPMM by getting a favourable result against the White Swans.

A top-three position for Geylang will see them qualify for the 2017 AFC Cup as the second-top local team and make it their best finish in the league since a decade ago.

However, getting past Albirex will be a daunting task for the visitors as the White Swans are keen to achieve a quadruple this season, having already won the Great Eastern Community Shield and The New Paper League Cup, with a RHB Singapore Cup final yet to play for.

The White Swans can all but confirm their status as the new S.League champions if they beat the Eagles as they will go seven points clear of second-placed Tampines Rovers at the summit.

With games against Warriors FC, Hougang United and the Stags coming up for Albirex, the league title is theirs to lose and they will be extra motivated to get the important three points against Geylang.

The hosts will however, have to face the Eagles without talisman striker and current second joint-top scorer in the league Atsushi Kawata and defender Tomoki Menda because of suspension.

The Eagles on the other hand, will miss the services of captain Isa Halim who is also suspended and are sweating on the fitness of striker Mark Hartmann.

Suspension: Tomoki Menda and Atsushi Kawata (Albirex Niigata (S)), Isa Halim (Geylang International)

Albirex Niigata (S) – LWWWW

13/09/16 Balestier Khalsa 0-1 Albirex Niigata (S) (Singapore Cup)
09/09/16 Albirex Niigata (S) 1-0 Balestier Khalsa (Singapore Cup)
19/08/16 Balestier Khalsa 0-1 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)
11/08/16 Albirex Niigata (S) 4-0 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
05/08/16 Brunei DPMM 2-1 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)

Geylang International – WLDWW

25/08/16 Geylang International 2-1 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)
18/08/16 Garena Young Lions 0-2 Geylang International (S.League)
11/08/16 Geylang International 1-1 Brunei DPMM (S.League)
04/08/16 Tampines Rovers 2-1 Geylang International (S.League)
30/07/16 Hougang United 1-2 Geylang International (League Cup)

Head To Head (S.League)

20/05/16 Albirex Niigata (S) 2-0 Geylang International
10/03/15 Geylang International 0-0 Albirex Niigata (S)
26/10/15 Albirex Niigata (S) 2-0 Geylang International
02/08/15 Geylang International 0-2 Albirex Niigata (S)
08/04/15 Albirex Niigata (S) 1-0 Geylang International