Inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ champions Buriram United FC will carry their title defence into another decisive showdown with Công An Hà Nội FC on Wednesday with head coach Mark Jackson insisting his side will thrive under self-induced pressure.
Last season’s finalists clash again at Buriram Stadium in Group A of the 2025/26 edition of the competition with both teams needing a win to ignite their challenge for a place in the knockout rounds.
“We create our own pressure because we want to be successful in every game,” said Jackson on Tuesday. “That is the standard we set for ourselves as a club and as a team.”
The mouth-watering Matchday 3 game rekindles memories of last season’s dramatic Shopee Cup™ final, where Buriram lifted the title on penalties after a pulsating 5–5 aggregate draw.
Both teams enter the contest with little room for error after indifferent starts to the current campaign.
Buriram head into the fixture still searching for their first win after draws against Selangor FC and BG Pathum United FC, leaving the Thai champions on two points while the V League 1 outfit have three points with one win and one defeat.
Selangor FC top Group A with four points, followed closely by BG Pathum United FC, also on four points.
Despite the tight margins, Jackson remains focused on performance rather than permutations.
“We had very tough and exciting games against our opponents last season, and we expect another difficult match,” he said.
“But we concentrate on what we do. We put ourselves under pressure to win football matches. We’ve built a strong and deep squad here. Rotation is important, and everyone is hungry to contribute.”
Công An Hà Nội arrived in Thailand knowing victory would dramatically reshape their qualification path after mixed results, which included an opening defeat to BG Pathum United.
Goalkeeper Filip Nguyễn, who featured in last season’s heart-breaking final loss, acknowledged the stakes are high as defeat for either team could spell elimination from the group phase as it reaches the midway point this week.
“Buriram are playing at home and it will be tough, but this game can decide our future in the competition,” he said. “We really want to get the three points.”
Mano Pölking, the head coach, added: “This is a very difficult game, and the situation in the group makes it even more exciting and important for both teams. It is like a final — neither team can afford to lose.
“We have already come through two games like this before, and now this is the third one, so we must be totally focused. We are prepared, we are settled well here, we have good rest, and now it’s about being 100 percent focused.
“Games like this are decided by small details and full concentration.”
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