Depleted Buriram gunning for draw

Depleted Buriram gunning for draw

Buriram United coach Bozidar Bandovic.
Buriram United coach Bozidar Bandovic.

Buriram United may have already been eliminated from the AFC Champions League but their coach Bozidar Bandovic is still keen to grab at least a point from the Thunder Castle's last Group G game on Tuesday.

The Thai champions' three points in the group stage have come from an earlier victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors so they can expect some sort of reprisal from the South Korean giants when they meet again today.

The match will kick off at 5pm (Thai time) at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

Buriram are in the last place in Group G and Bandovic is eager to improve their total points tally to at least four with a draw in today's battle.

"We are the Thai League 1 champions, so we will have to try and do our best. It is important for us to take at least a point back with us to Thailand," Bandovic told a pre-match news conference on Monday.

"We have several players who are suspended and there are some on the injury list as well. I think in this game, we will have to give our youth the opportunity to play. It should be a great experience for them."

Bandovic also hinted at giving Buriram's 16-year-old sensation Suphanat Mueanta a start in today's match.

"Suphanat has set some records both at the domestic and Asian levels. He has great potential and has a bright future, so we have to give him as much exposure as we can.

"However, at the same time he is very young so we need to protect him as well."

Two-time champions Jeonbuk, meanwhile, have already been assured of a place in the last-16 stage as group winners.

Jeonbuk coach Jose Morais said: "I realise that we are through to the next stage and Buriram are out, but I am still expecting a good contest. Both of us will be playing for honour so there is still a lot at stake."

"We want to win this match and improve our total to 15 points. We will field our best squad in tomorrow's game," said Morais.

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