The wait is almost over! On Friday night we’ll play in the AFC Champions League for the first time when we take on BG Pathum United in our first Group G fixture.
We’ll forgive you for not being an expert on the Thai Premier League, but figured we should do a bit of research on our upcoming opposition. We’ve already had an in-depth look at the club, but now it’s time to pick out a few players you should keep a close eye on when Friday night rolls around.
Ikhsan Fandi
While the Singaporean forward has only recently arrived at BG Pathum, he’s certainly got a few tricks up his sleeve. Already capped 27 times by the Singapore national team, the 23-year-old was a big January signing.
Standing at 6-foot tall, the likes of Curtis Good and Nuno Reis will have their work cut out for them at set pieces.
Fandi already has 13 goals to his name in just 18 appearances and City will to be on its game to ensure he doesn’t add to that on Friday. He recently scored four goals in just 12 minutes in a big 7-2 win for BG over PT Prachup FC, and showed his all-round ability scoring two with his head and one with both his right and left boot.
Chaowat Veerachat
Capable of playing anywhere in midfield, Veerachat is one of the most consistent players in the BG lineup. The now 25-year-old joined the club in 2017 and has made over 100 appearances for The Rabbits.
Veerachat was part of Thailand’s set-up throughout his junior career and last month made his first appearance for the senior national team and netted his debut goal in a 2-0 win over Nepal.
He’s also somewhat of a Champions League specialist, being one of BG’s best in last season’s competition; scoring twice and also providing an assist in his five appearances.
Andrés Túñez
Perhaps the most experienced BG player is the 35-year-old Venezuelan central defender.
Túñez has been capped 16 times by his national team and has been at BG Pathum since June 2020, although he is very experienced in the Thai Premier League having played in it since 2014 with Buriram United where he made over 200 appearances.
He also spent some time in Spain in his younger days, playing in both the La Liga and the Spanish second division with RC Celta de Vigo in the early 2010’s.
Although he may now be towards the end of his playing career, he’s still arguably BG’s best player, as was evidenced when he was named in the Thai League’s ‘Best XI’ last season.
