Lion City Sailors vs Sharjah

The 21st edition of the AFC Champions League Two reaches it’s climax on Sunday, with the final pitching Singapore’s Lion City Sailors against the Arabian Gulf League’s Sharjah Cultural Club.

Both sides have had superb campaigns to reach the final; the Sailor’s have swept aside all rivals with ease, while Sharjah edged out their opponents in three extremely close ties. Both have shown character, determination and ability in reaching the showpiece game, and the matchup between them promises to be a treat.

As the game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Where to Watch

This game will be broadcasted on OneFootball, with kick off scheduled for 13:00 GMT on Sunday.

Key Statistics

• The sailors scored 13 goals in their three two-legged knockout ties en route to the final, while Sharjah scored just 5.
• Both are first time finalists in the competition, with the Sailor’s becoming the first team from Singapore to reach the final two.
• Sharjah come into the game on a five game winless streak, with their last victory coming on April 22nd.
• Lion City Sailors are eight points clear at the top of the Singapore Premier League, and have lost just four domestic games this season.

Lion City Sailors Preview

Lion City Sailors Predicted Lineup (5-4-1): Izwan Mahbud (GK); Diogo Costa, Toni Datkovic, Bailey Wright, Lionel Tan, Akram Azman; Lennart Thy, Rui Pires, Hami Syahin, Maxime Lestienne; Shawal Anuar.

The Sailors go into this match as odds on favourites, and for good reason. They dominated virtually all of the knockout ties, beating Muang Thong, Sanfrecce and Sydney FC by aggregate score lines of 7-2, 4-1 and 2-1 respectively.

They have shown they have all the attributes of Asian Champions, dominating their domestic league, as well as looking ahead to a Singapore Cup semi-final later this month. For the first time in their club's history, they have the chance to be Continental Champions.

Of course, the final cannot be compared to other knockout rounds - the nerves are tangible, and prize looming large, and in European competition we have seen countless sides crumble under the pressure. The pressure on Lion City Sailors will be immense, and coach Aleksandar Rankovic must make sure his players are up for the challenge.

Sharjah Preview

Sharjah Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Khalid Tawhid (GK); David Petrovic, Sultan Al Saleem, Yu-Min Jo, Maro Katinic; Darko Nejasmic, Mohammad Abdulbasit; Guilherme Biro, Adel Taarabt, Firas Ben Al Arbi; Ousmane Camara.

While they deserve significant credit for reaching the final, Sharjah will know that as a team, they are weaker on paper than Lion City Sailor’s. It can be seen in their recent results, in their path to the final, and in the fact they don’t top their domestic league.

They certainly opted to do things the hard way during the knockout stages, penalty shootout wins against Al-Hussein and league rivals Shabab Al-Ahli saw them edge into the semi-finals, while a jaw-dropping second leg stoppage time comeback over Al-Taawoun saw them turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 aggregate win in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

They have certainly shown heart - any continental finalist needs character - but grit alone won’t win them the trophy. They have plenty of talent in their squad, with former Tottenham and Benfica star Adel Taarabt in particular providing much needed experience and European quality, but four defeats in their last five games indicate that the pressure of the occasion may be getting to them.

Lion City Sailors vs Sharjah Head to Head

The two sides have never met each other in a competitive fixture before, meaning that the final takes on another dimension as both sides look to assert dominance of the other.

Lion City Sailors vs Sharjah Betting Tip

A cup final winner is always hard to predict - shocks are frequent, and even if the result is correct, the game typically take’s a mazy path to get there. That is why we aren't going to try, instead backing both teams to score.

Lion City Sailors have scored in every single AFC Champion League game this season, so are almost certain to net here, while Sharjah have shown they are capable of coming up with important, clutch moments just when the side needs them.

Lion City Sailors vs Sharjah Prediction

Lion City Sailors 3-1 Sharjah

Sharjah have been a superb underdog, and have thrilled the Asian continent with their run to the final, and the manner in which they got there. However, the Sailor’s seem to be a cut above them, and will totally overwhelm the Gulf team, dominating from start to finish and lifting the AFC Champions League 2 trophy for the first time.