[2026-27 AFC Champions League] Johor Darul Ta'zim vs Port FC: Match preview Kick-off: 27 October, 10:00 UTC
Johor Darul Ta'zim and Port FC meet at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on 27 October in the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite East League Stage. Both clubs sit near the top of their domestic leagues, but their continental campaigns have started differently. Johor Darul Ta'zim have four points and are looking for their first home win of this campaign, while Port FC travel in search of their first point after two defeats.
1. Match overview and team form
Johor Darul Ta'zim drew 1-1 at home with Buriram United before winning 2-0 away to Pohang Steelers. Port FC lost 2-1 to Vissel Kobe and 5-1 to Kashiwa Reysol. Both of Port FC's opponents were Japanese sides, while Johor Darul Ta'zim's two opponents were in the lower half of the table on 26 October. That makes it difficult to read the points gap as a straightforward measure of the difference between the teams. Port FC also created few chances in either defeat.
This season's competition record Results after 2 matches: Johor Darul Ta'zim, 1 win and 1 draw, 3 goals scored and 1 conceded / Port FC, 2 defeats, 2 goals scored and 7 conceded Combined expected goals and expected goals conceded: Johor Darul Ta'zim 4.42 and 0.84 / Port FC 0.81 and 5.47 Recent competitive form: Johor Darul Ta'zim have won 6 in a row and kept a clean sheet in each of their last 3 matches / Port FC have won 3 domestic matches in a row
The expected goals figures cover only 2 matches per team in this season's competition. Johor Darul Ta'zim had 20 shots against Buriram United but scored just once, with the woodwork and a saved penalty denying them. Against Pohang Steelers, their high press forced passing errors, but both goals came after Pohang had been reduced to 10 men by a red card. They have shown they can create chances, but the scoreline against Pohang cannot be carried straight over to an 11-v-11 match today.
Johor Darul Ta'zim have won 9 and drawn 1 of their last 10 competitive matches. That run includes big domestic wins, so the continental record needs to be considered separately. In the second half of last season, they went 2 wins and 3 defeats in 5 continental matches, scoring 6 and conceding 6. All 3 defeats were by a one-goal margin. Their 3 home matches in the competition since the start of the 2025-26 season have been a 1-0 win over Vissel Kobe, a 3-1 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima and a 1-1 draw with Buriram United. The fact that they have kept the scorelines close at home against strong opponents is more relevant to today's match than their high-scoring domestic form.
Port FC have picked up domestic results since changing coaches in September. They won all 4 domestic matches under Bozidar Bandovic, but lost 3-1 to Persib Bandung and 5-1 to Kashiwa Reysol in their 2 matches outside Thailand. Against Persib, they took the lead from a penalty in the 48th minute before conceding 3 times after the 87th minute. Against Kashiwa, they conceded 5 by the 28th minute. Bandovic switched from a back four to a back five during the Kashiwa match, after which the opponents had fewer shots. Kashiwa also substituted 3 first-choice players at half-time, though, so that second half alone is not enough to conclude Port FC's back five can keep the goals out for the whole match.
Both of Port FC's goals in this season's competition came from corners. Against Vissel Kobe, a ball returned to the box after a corner led to an own goal. Against Kashiwa Reysol, Athit Stephen Berg headed in from a corner. Berg has also played the full 90 minutes in both matches. He said at the pre-match press conference that his availability was uncertain (Makanbola, 26 October). If he is out, Port FC lose a defender who has played both continental matches and scored from a corner. Bandovic said 2 players were injured, but did not name them.
Johor Darul Ta'zim will be without Eddy İsrafilov through suspension. He also missed the match against Pohang Steelers, when Johor Darul Ta'zim did not concede. Pohang were reduced to 10 men late in the first half, though, so the defensive pairing was tested in an 11-v-11 situation for only around 45 minutes. His absence could matter if Port FC make use of corners or balls sent directly into the box.
The teams have no competitive head-to-head record. They played friendlies in 2018 and 2024, but those matches offer little insight into the current coaches and squads. The schedule is a more immediate factor. Port FC are playing their sixth match in 17 days since 11 October and have also made a trip to Japan. Johor Darul Ta'zim have had one extra day of rest. Bandovic also pointed to the short recovery time and travel as challenges (Makanbola, 26 October).
2. Matchup analysis
Early on, the key question is how Port FC handle the ball in their own half. Johor Darul Ta'zim's high press forced passing mistakes against Pohang Steelers. Their opener against Buriram United also came just after winning the ball in midfield and playing it through to Óscar Arribas Pasero. Port FC failed to have a shot in the first 20 minutes against Vissel Kobe and conceded in the 10th minute. They also conceded early against Kashiwa Reysol. If Johor Darul Ta'zim win the ball high up the pitch, Arribas and Marcos Guilherme could quickly find themselves with chances.
The game could look different if Bandovic starts with extra defenders and uses long passes to bypass the press. That would reduce the time Port FC spend passing in their own half and could limit Johor Darul Ta'zim's chances to win the ball there. Johor Darul Ta'zim would then need to keep possession and find other ways through a deep defence. They failed to add to their lead against Buriram United even after gaining a numerical advantage in the second half. That leaves open the possibility Port FC can get through the opening spell without conceding. Bandovic said the minimum target was a point (RTM, 26 October), and pre-match reports also expected Port FC to keep their defensive lines compact (Bernama, 26 October). The starting shape and direction of Port FC's first passes should shape the early stages.
Even if Port FC use a back five to protect the flanks and space behind the defence, Johor Darul Ta'zim do not build all their attacks from those areas. For their opener against Pohang Steelers, Shahab Zahedi played the ball to Marcos Guilherme just outside the box. The second goal came when Guilherme followed up after the goalkeeper saved Stephen Berg's shot. Port FC may need their midfielders to help prevent both Zahedi's link-up play around the edge of the box and follow-up shots. That could make it harder for them to find their forwards after winning the ball.
Berg's availability is particularly important in this matchup. If he plays, Port FC have a defender who featured in both continental matches to compete with Zahedi, and they can also look for another header from a corner at the other end. Even if he is out, Port FC can still attack second balls after corners or send the ball directly into the box. Johor Darul Ta'zim conceded against Buriram United when a direct ball into the box was volleyed home by Stefan Simić. Given how few chances Port FC created from open play in their 2 matches, their ability to turn a limited number of corners and direct balls into the box into goals will matter.
The managers' responses could shape the second half. When the first half against Buriram United ended 1-1, Xisco brought on Natxo Insa and Bergson together at the break. Bergson hit the woodwork and took a penalty. Bandovic added defenders against Kashiwa Reysol. If the score stays at 0-0 or within a goal this time, Port FC may try to keep their defensive shape while Johor Darul Ta'zim bring on attacking players to add more shots in the box. Port FC's packed schedule could become a burden at that stage, but there is no basis for explaining all their late concessions in the past as a fitness issue. They conceded 3 times late against Persib Bandung even after having plenty of rest.
3. Verdict and conclusion
Johor Darul Ta'zim are more likely to win. The runs in behind the defence and follow-up shots Port FC have allowed in their earlier continental matches match the types of attacks Johor Darul Ta'zim have used to score. If Port FC add defenders, their midfielders may also have to drop back to stop Zahedi linking play around the edge of the box, which could make it harder to build attacks after winning the ball. Johor Darul Ta'zim have also brought on attacking options in the second half before, while Port FC arrive after a shorter rest and travel abroad.
The market strongly favours a Johor Darul Ta'zim win. The question is how many goals the match will produce. The market has leaned towards a high-scoring game, reflecting both teams' domestic scoring form and Port FC's 5 goals conceded against Kashiwa Reysol. But Port FC are likely to keep their defensive lines compact with a point as their minimum target, and Johor Darul Ta'zim have not scored as freely in continental competition as they have domestically. Port FC's goals in this campaign have all come from corners, and Berg's availability is uncertain. Those are reasons not to carry their domestic scoring rate straight into this away match.
Our score prediction is 2-0 or 3-0 to Johor Darul Ta'zim. If Port FC add defenders early and keep the match goalless, Johor Darul Ta'zim's opener could come in the second half. We expect them to exploit the space behind Port FC's defence when the visitors push forward in search of a point, then add another goal. If Port FC lose the ball under pressure while building from the back early on, the first goal could come sooner. The score could also be higher than expected if Berg plays and scores from a corner.
