Buriram United vs Chiangrai United

Buriram United and Chiangrai United go head-to-head at the Chang Arena in a handsomely-looking Thai FA Cup last-16 tie.

Buriram United have picked up where they left off in 2021, winning both competitive games this calendar year by an aggregate score of 6-1, including a 4-1 league triumph at Chiangmai United over the weekend. Indeed, the hosts have enjoyed a noticeable upturn in form lately, going from three competitive matches without a victory (D1, L2) to five wins on the trot, three of which saw them score 4+ goals. Going back to February 2021, the ‘Thunder Castles’ have not lost any of their 16 home outings in all competitions (W14, D2), notably keeping a clean sheet in each of the last five in a row (W4, D1). With each of those four wins yielding a 2+ goal margin, Buriram could be cruising past Chiangrai here.

Meanwhile, Chiangrai may have closed 2021 out with a 1-0 home loss to non-other than Buriram, but they enjoyed a mini-revival in 2021 so far, winning two consecutive matches by a single-goal margin. Interestingly, since a scoreless draw against Ratchaburi in mid-September, none of the visitors’ last 15 competitive games have ended level (W9, L6), with 67% of those fixtures seeing the winner on the day keep a clean sheet. Notably, though, the ‘Beetles’ have won their last five competitive fixtures away from home by an aggregate score of 9-1, with three of those triumphs yielding an identical 1-0 scoreline. But after failing to score in three of their last four visits to Buriram (D1, L3), they will feel scared about their prospects of making it to the quarter-finals.