# 2021–22 Bali United F.C. season

The 2021–22 season was the seventh season of competitive association football and the sixth season in the Liga 1 played by Bali United Football Club, a professional football club based in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. Due to the cancellation of 2020 season, mean it is their sixth successive season in Liga 1.
Coming into the season, Bali United are the reigning Liga 1 champions and they succeeded in defending their titles and become the first ever back to back champions. They also qualified for the 2021 AFC Cup group stage. This season is Bali United's third with head coach Stefano Cugurra.

## Background

The 2020 season was Stefano Cugurra's second full season as head coach of Bali United, having taken charge in January 2019. The club had their second Asian competitions appearances as they competed in AFC Champions League, where they knocked out again in the preliminary round 2, this time by Australian side Melbourne Victory. That result made them got a consolation place in the AFC Cup, where they unable to finish as the competition was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. They also unable to finish the league season as the competition was cancelled and declared void due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

## Pre-season and friendlies
### Friendlies

Friendlies match details :
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers |
| 7 March 2021 – 19:30 | Indonesia U23s | Neutral | 1–3 | Lerby |
| 29 April 2021 – 20:30 | Bali United U20s | Neutral | 3–1 | Haudi, Gavin, Widnyana |
| 30 May 2021 – 16:00 | RANS Cilegon | Neutral | 1–0 | Lerby |
| 13 June 2021 – 16:30 | PSIM | Away | 2–1 | Pellu (2) |
| 14 June 2021 – 16:30 | PSIM | Away | 1–1 | Gavin |
| 16 June 2021 – 16:30 | Persis | Away | 2–1 | Fahmi, Spasojević |
| 18 June 2021 – 16:30 | Barito Putera | Neutral | 0–2 | |

### Menpora Cup

Menpora Cup match details :
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Referee |
| 24 March 2021 – 19:15 | Group stage | Persib | Neutral | 1–1 | Pacheco | Yeni Krisdianto |
| 29 March 2021 – 16:15 | Group stage | Persiraja | Neutral | 2–0 | Spasojević, Pellu | Annas Apriliandi |
| 2 April 2021 – 16:15 | Group stage | Persita | Neutral | 1–1 | Spasojević | Dwi Purba |
| 12 April 2021 – 21:30 | Quarter-finals | PSS | Neutral | 0–0 (2–4 p) | | Nusur Fadilah |

## Match results
### Liga 1

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Bali United (C) | 34 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 57 | 26 | +31 | 75 | Qualification for the 2022 AFC Cup group stage and Qualification for the 2023-24 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1 |
| 2 | Persib | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 48 | 22 | +26 | 69 | |
| 3 | Bhayangkara | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 48 | 27 | +21 | 66 | |
| 4 | Arema | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 44 | 25 | +19 | 65 | |
| 5 | Persebaya | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 56 | 35 | +21 | 63 | |
Liga 1 match details :
| Date | Week | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Referee | Position |
| Series 1 – Jakarta, West Java & Banten ||||||||
| 27 August 2021 – 20:00 | 1 | Persik | Jakarta (H) | 1–0 | Rahmat | Yudi Nurcahya | 4 |
| 11 September 2021 – 16:15 | 2 | Barito Putera | Tangerang (A) | 2–1 | Pellu, Spasojević | Annas Apriliandi | 1 |
| 18 September 2021 – 21:30 | 3 | Persib | Tangerang (H) | 2–2 | Spasojević, Yabes | Sance Lawita | 2 |
| 24 September 2021 – 16:15 | 4 | Persita | Cibinong (A) | 2–1 | Spasojević (2) | Agung Setiawan | 1 |
| 28 September 2021 – 19:15 | 5 | Borneo | Tangerang (A) | 1–1 | Spasojević | Aprisman Aranda | 2 |
| 2 October 2021 – 16:15 | 6 | Persikabo 1973 | Jakarta (H) | 1–1 | Lerby | Dwi Susilo | 3 |
| Series 2 – Central Java & Special Region of Yogyakarta ||||||||
| 17 October 2021 – 16:15 | 7 | PSM | Bantul (A) | 1–2 | Spasojević | Faulur Rossy | 6 |
| 23 October 2021 – 21:45 | 8 | Bhayangkara | Sleman (H) | 1–2 | Spasojević | Hamim Thohari | 7 |
| 27 October 2021 – 21:45 | 9 | PSS | Surakarta (A) | 2–0 | Platje, Éber | Rully Ruslin Tambuntina | 5 |
| 31 October 2021 – 21:45 | 10 | PSIS | Sleman (H) | 0–0 | | Annas Apriliandi | 7 |
| 5 November 2021 – 19:15 | 11 | Persipura | Bantul (A) | 1–0 | Fajrin | Sigit Budiyanto | 5 |
| Series 3 – Central Java & Special Region of Yogyakarta ||||||||
| 19 November 2021 – 21:45 | 12 | Persela | Magelang (H) | 2–1 | Spasojević (2) | Faulur Rossy | 4 |
| 25 November 2021 – 19:30 | 13 | Persija | Surakarta (A) | 1–0 | Spasojević | Thoriq Alkatiri | 4 |
| 30 November 2021 – 21:45 | 14 | Persiraja | Sleman (H) | 5–0 | Platje, Spasojević (2), Haudi, Fajrin | Yudi Nurcahya | 4 |
| 5 December 2021 – 21:45 | 15 | Arema | Sleman (A) | 0–0 | | Ginanjar Rahman Latief | 4 |
| 9 December 2021 – 21:45 | 16 | Madura United | Bantul (H) | 0–1 | | Moch Adung | 5 |
| 5 January 2022 – 21:45 | 17 | Persebaya | North Denpasar (A) | 1–3 | Éber | Asep Yandis | 5 |
| Series 4 – Bali ||||||||
| 9 January 2022 – 18:00 | 18 | Barito Putera | North Denpasar (H) | 3–0 | Spasojević (2), Mbarga | Yudi Nurcahya | 5 |
| 13 January 2022 – 21:45 | 19 | Persib | North Denpasar (A) | 1–0 | Lilipaly | Steven Yubel Poli | 5 |
| 17 January 2022 – 19:15 | 20 | Persita | North Denpasar (H) | 2–0 | Mbarga, Rahmat | Asep Yandis | 5 |
| 29 January 2022 – 16:15 | 21 | Borneo | North Denpasar (H) | 2–1 | Mbarga, Lerby | Thoriq Alkatiri | 5 |
| 3 February 2022 – 21:30 | 22 | Persikabo 1973 | North Denpasar (A) | 3–0 | Tupamahu, Spasojević, Lilipaly | Pipin Indra Pratama | 3 |
| 7 February 2022 – 21:30 | 23 | PSM | North Denpasar (H) | 2–2 | Lilipaly, Spasojević | Sigit Budiyanto | 3 |
| 12 February 2022 – 19:00 | 24 | Bhayangkara | North Denpasar (A) | 3–0 | Spasojević, Lilipaly, Irfan | Faulur Rossy | 3 |
| 16 February 2022 – 21:45 | 25 | PSS | North Denpasar (H) | 1–0 | Spasojević | Hamim Thohari | 2 |
| 20 February 2022 – 21:45 | 26 | PSIS | North Denpasar (A) | 1–0 | Mbarga | Sance Lawita | 2 |
| 24 February 2022 – 21:45 | 27 | Persipura | North Denpasar (H) | 4–1 | Spasojević, Pacheco, Lilipaly, Éber | Fariq Hitaba | 1 |
| 1 March 2022 – 17:00 | 28 | Persela | West Denpasar (A) | 2–1 | Rahmat, Éber | Thoriq Alkatiri | 1 |
| Series 5 – Bali ||||||||
| 6 March 2022 – 21:45 | 29 | Persija | North Denpasar (H) | 2–1 | Spasojević, Lerby | Dwi Purba | 1 |
| 11 March 2022 – 21:30 | 30 | Persiraja | West Denpasar (A) | 1–0 | Spasojević | Yudi Nurcahya | 1 |
| 15 March 2022 – 18:00 | 31 | Arema | North Denpasar (H) | 2–1 | Dendi (o.g.), Nouri | Faulur Rossy | 1 |
| 21 March 2022 – 21:30 | 32 | Madura United | West Denpasar (A) | 2–0 | Spasojević, Éber | Oki Dwi Putra | 1 |
| 25 March 2022 – 21:45 | 33 | Persebaya | North Denpasar (H) | 0–3 | | Thoriq Alkatiri | 1 |
| 31 March 2022 – 21:00 | 34 | Persik | Gianyar (A) | 3–1 | Spasojević, Rahmat, Lilipaly | Fariq Hitaba | 1 |

### AFC Cup

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hanoi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Bali United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Boeung Ket | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Winners of ASEAN 2.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AFC Cup match details :
| Date | Round | Opponent |
| TBD – --:-- | Group stage | Boeung Ket |
| TBD – --:-- | Group stage | Chanthabouly or Kasuka |
| TBD – --:-- | Group stage | Hanoi |

## Player details
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Liga 1 | Liga 1 | AFC Cup | AFC Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | IDN | Nadeo Argawinata | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | IDN | Ahmad Agung | 7 | 0 | 0+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | IDN | Haudi Abdillah | 14 | 1 | 11+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | IRQ | Brwa Nouri | 30 | 1 | 29+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | IDN | Ilija Spasojević | 34 | 23 | 34 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | IDN | Stefano Lilipaly | 30 | 6 | 26+4 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | IDN | Yabes Roni | 11 | 1 | 6+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | IDN | Gunawan Dwi Cahyo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | IDN | Fadil Sausu (captain) | 14 | 0 | 9+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | IDN | Gavin Kwan Adsit | 10 | 0 | 1+9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | IDN | Hariono | 16 | 0 | 5+11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | IDN | Sidik Saimima | 16 | 0 | 9+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | IDN | I Kadek Agung Widnyana | 11 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | IDN | Rizky Pellu | 27 | 1 | 16+11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | IDN | Lerby Eliandry | 23 | 3 | 1+22 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | IDN | Rakasurya Handika | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | IDN | Dias Angga Putra | 12 | 0 | 3+9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | IDN | Ricky Fajrin | 30 | 2 | 29+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | IDN | Komang Tri | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | BRA | Éber Bessa | 28 | 5 | 23+5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | IDN | Samuel Reimas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | IDN | Eky Taufik | 7 | 0 | 3+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | IDN | Leonard Tupamahu | 29 | 1 | 25+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | IDN | I Made Andhika Wijaya | 30 | 0 | 27+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | CMR | Privat Mbarga | 17 | 4 | 16+1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | MF | IDN | Irfan Jaya | 13 | 1 | 2+11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | DF | BRA | Willian Pacheco | 30 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 | GK | IDN | Wawan Hendrawan | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 66 | DF | IDN | I Gede Agus Mahendra | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 76 | FW | IDN | Kadek Dimas Satria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | DF | IDN | Reuben Silitonga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 85 | DF | IDN | Michael Orah | 5 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 91 | MF | IDN | Rahmat | 22 | 4 | 4+18 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 96 | DF | IDN | Abduh Lestaluhu | 5 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred out during the season ||||||||||
| 7 | FW | NED | Melvin Platje | 16 | 2 | 15+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | IDN | Muhammad Taufiq | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | IDN | Fahmi Al-Ayyubi | 8 | 0 | 2+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Source: Match results
* Ordered by player's number.

### Disciplinary record

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Total | Liga 1 | Liga 1 | Liga 1 | AFC Cup | AFC Cup | AFC Cup |
| 1 | GK | IDN | Nadeo Argawinata | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | IDN | Ahmad Agung | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | IDN | Haudi Abdillah | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | IRQ | Brwa Nouri | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | IDN | Ilija Spasojević | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | IDN | Stefano Lilipaly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | IDN | Yabes Roni | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | IDN | Fadil Sausu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | IDN | Gavin Kwan Adsit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | IDN | Hariono | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | IDN | Sidik Saimima | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | IDN | I Kadek Agung Widnyana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | IDN | Rizky Pellu | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | IDN | Lerby Eliandry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | IDN | Dias Angga Putra | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | IDN | Ricky Fajrin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | IDN | Komang Tri | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | BRA | Éber Bessa | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | IDN | Eky Taufik | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | IDN | Leonard Tupamahu | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | IDN | I Made Andhika Wijaya | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | CMR | Privat Mbarga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | DF | BRA | Willian Pacheco | 6 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 | GK | IDN | Wawan Hendrawan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred out during the season |||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | NED | Melvin Platje | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Source: Match results
* Ordered by player's number.
* = Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 3 February 2021 | MF | Diego Assis | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 24 February 2021 | DF | I Gede Agus Mahendra | Youth sector | Promoted |
| 18 March 2021 | MF | Rizky Pellu | PSM | Free transfer |
| 8 September 2021 | MF | Éber Bessa | Nacional | Free transfer |
| 24 December 2021 | MF | Privat Mbarga | Svay Rieng | Undisclosed |
| 6 January 2022 | MF | Irfan Jaya | PSS | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 20 February 2021 | DF | Agus Nova Wiantara | Persis | Free transfer |
| 26 February 2021 | MF | Kadek Haarlem Anggariva | Putra Tresna Bali | Free transfer |
| 26 February 2021 | MF | Rian Firmansyah | PSM | Free transfer |
| 26 February 2021 | MF | Reza Irfana | PSIS | Free transfer |
| 26 February 2021 | DF | Gusti Sandria | PSMS | Free transfer |
| 18 March 2021 | FW | Hanis Saghara Putra | TIRA-Persikabo | Free transfer |
| 28 April 2021 | FW | Irfan Jauhari | Persis | Free transfer |
| 30 April 2021 | MF | Arapenta Poerba | Persis | Free transfer |
| 29 July 2021 | MF | Diego Assis | Free agent | Released |
| 24 December 2021 | FW | Melvin Platje | Bhayangkara | Free transfer |
* ↑ Bali United qualified for the 2022 AFC Cup group stage as the 2019 Liga 1 champions.
* ↑ Joined on 27 April 2021.
* ↑ Joined before 2021 Liga 3 Bali started.
* ↑ Joined on 22 August 2021.
* ↑ Joined on 18 August 2021.
* ↑ Joined on 15 March 2021.
* ↑ Joined on 20 March 2021.
* ↑ Loaned before joined permanently.
* ↑ Joined on 7 January 2022.

### Loans in

| Start date | Pos. | Name | From | End date |
| 14 September 2021 | DF | Reuben Silitonga | Persis | End of season |
| 7 January 2022 | MF | Ahmad Agung | Persik | End of season |
| 7 January 2022 | DF | Abduh Lestaluhu | Persis | End of season |
| 7 January 2022 | DF | Eky Taufik | Persis | End of season |

### Loans out

| Start date | Pos. | Name | To | End date |
| 1 February 2021 | FW | Melvin Platje | De Graafschap | 3 June 2021 |
| 9 February 2021 | MF | Brwa Nouri | Zakho | 29 May 2021 |
| 12 October 2021 | FW | Kadek Dimas Satria | PSIM | End of Liga 2 season |
| 22 December 2021 | MF | Muhammad Taufiq | Persik | End of Liga 1 season |
| 22 December 2021 | MF | Fahmi Al-Ayyubi | Persik | End of Liga 1 season |

## Awards

* Liga 1:
** Player of the Month: Ilija Spasojević (September)
** Top Goalscorer: Ilija Spasojević (23 goals)
** Team of the Season: Éber Bessa, Brwa Nouri, Ilija Spasojević