Match: Bangkok United v Johor Darul Ta'zim
Date: 31 January, Tuesday
Time: 8pm SGT/5:30pm IST/12pm GMT
Competition: AFC Champions League 2017, preliminary round 2
Venue: Thammasat Stadium, Pathum Thani
TV Channel: There is no live TV coverage in Singapore.
Live streaming: The match can be watched live online at The AFC Hub Youtube channel.
Live updates will be available on AFC's official Twitter handle.
Overview
Despite being a major force in the Malaysian Super League and even dominating AFC Cup by winning it in 2015 and reaching the semi-final in 2016, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) have failed in their previous two attempts to make the group stages of AFC Champions League. On both occasions, the Johor-based club were dumped out by Thai clubs - Bangkok Glass and Muangthong United.
On Tuesday, in their third attempt to progress in the top-tier continental competition, the Southern Tigers will face 2016 Thai Premier League runners-up, Bangkok United on the road. Going by the recent pre-season friendly defeats during their tour to Thailand against local sides Chonburi and Air Force Central, Tuesday's match will be a tough nut to crack for the Malaysian giants.
JDT have begun their new league season after undergoing a lot of changes in the squad as well as the management. The most notable of all is their decision to replace one of their most successful coaches - Mario Gomez with 38-year-old, former JDT II manager Benjamin Mora. Along with the Argentine tactician they have also released prolific imports Juan Martin Lucero and Jorge Pereyra Diaz.
However, they have secured the services of Argentine trio Brian Ferreira, Gonzalo Cabrera and Jeronimo Barrales, all of whom starred in their 3-1 win over Felda United on Friday, which was also their first victory of the 2017 Super League season.
JDT though will definitely have to punch above their weight if they are to travel to Japan for the preliminary round three clash against J.League giants Gamba Osaka as their Thai opposition Bangkok United are looking set after a solid pre-season campaign against J.League sides. Despite losing a closely-fought battle last Tuesday against Yokohama Marinos, Bangkok stunned Fifa Club World Cup 2016 runners-up Kashima Antlers 4-3 on Thursday at the Rajamangala Stadium.
Team News
Bangkok
Possible XI: Phoothawcheuk; Ekkachai, Panupong, Wanna Sri, Ernesto; oscar, Witthaya, Sumanya, Sanrawat; Durovski, Teeraptep
JDT
Possible XI: Farizal; Antonio, Fadhli, Nasrullaq, Fazly; Amirulhadi, Safiq, Cabera; Azammudin, Ferreira, Barrales
