# 2020 Bali United F.C. season

The 2020 season was the sixth season of competitive association football and fifth season in the Liga 1 played by Bali United Football Club, a professional football club based in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. Their 1st-place finish in 2019 mean it was their fifth successive season in Liga 1.
Coming into the season, Bali United were the reigning Liga 1 champions. They also qualified for the AFC Champions League preliminary round 1 and ASEAN Club Championship group stage. This season was Bali United's second with head coach Stefano Cugurra. But Emral Abus served as a head coach in the AFC Champions League because there was a slight problem with Stefano Cugurra's coaching license which makes it administratively unable to be registered as a head coach. The same case also happen in AFC Cup where Eko Purjianto was registered as head coach.
They unable to finished all of this season competition (except for AFC Champions league which they finished in preliminary round 2) because all competition this season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Background

The 2019 season was Stefano Cugurra's first full season as head coach of Bali United, having taken charge in January 2019. The team went on a 12-match unbeaten run from July until September. This saw Bali United became the champions of 2019 Liga 1 with four matches left. Bali United were beaten 2–2 on away goals aggregate by Persija in the quarter-finals of 2018–19 Piala Indonesia.

## Pre-season and friendlies
### Friendlies

Friendlies match details :
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers |
| 1 February – 16:30 | Persela | Home | 1–0 | Fadil |
| 2 February – 16:30 | Persela | Home | 2–0 | Widnyana, Rahmat |

## Review and events
### January–March

Bali United started their new season with preliminary round 1 of the AFC Champions League by playing away to Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore to face 2019 Singapore Cup winners, Tampines Rovers. Playing on artificial turf, Melvin Platje gave Bali United an early lead with two goals inside 15 minute. Tampines Rovers pull one back with a goal before half time. Tampines Rovers evened the score in the 53rd minute and took the lead in the 68th minute by an own goal from their new signing, Rahmat. Rahmat paid for his mistake with an equalizing goal in the 81st minute and the match continues to extra time. Stefano Lilipaly and the other new signing Sidik Saimima ensured a 5–3 win and Bali United through to preliminary round 2. They once again failed to reach the group stage as they were destroyed by four-time A-League champions, Melbourne Victory five goals without reply at AAMI Park which resulted them to played in AFC Cup.
Once again Bali United were drawn into Group G. Ceres–Negros (Philippines), Svay Rieng (Cambodia), and Than Quảng Ninh (Vietnam) joined the group. The team opened their AFC Cup campaign with a win against 10-men Than Quảng Ninh after falling behind 0–1 in the first half. Rahmat and Platje started their comeback in just five minutes into the second half. Ilija Spasojević scored from a penalty before Platje sealed the game 4–1. They failed to continue their momentum as they lose to Svay Rieng. Once again played in artificial turf, they conceded two goals inside the 20th minute before Spasojević scored the only goals for the team.
They were held to a stalemate against Persita in the first match of March and Liga 1. A trip to the Demang Lehman Stadium to face Barito Putera five days after ended in a 2–1 win; the goals, scored by Lilipaly in the first half and the returning Lerby Eliandry in the second half. Losing three key players really affected the game of Bali United which made them lose 4–0 to Ceres–Negros in the continuation of the AFC Cup group stage. They bounce back with a 3–1 win against Madura United in the league. Platje scored two goals and Paulo Sérgio scored two assists plus a controversially disallowed goal from Spasojević marked their performance after back from injuries.

## Match results
### Liga 1

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Persib | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 9 | |
| 2 | Bali United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 | Qualification for the 2021 AFC Cup group stage |
| 3 | Borneo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Persipura | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 6 | Qualification for the 2021 AFC Cup play-off round |
| 5 | PSIS | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 | |
* ↑ Bali United qualified for the 2021 AFC Cup group stage as the 2019 Liga 1 champions.
* ↑ Persipura qualified for the 2021 AFC Cup play-off round as the 2019 Liga 1 third place.
Liga 1 match details :
| Date | Week | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Referee | Position |
| 1 March – 21:40 | 1 | Persita | Home | 0–0 | | 6,551 | Asep Yandis | 9 |
| 6 March – 19:30 | 2 | Barito Putera | Away | 2–1 | Lilipaly, Lerby | 4,481 | Sigit Budiyanto | 4 |
| 15 March – 16:30 | 3 | Madura United | Home | 3–1 | Platje (2), Pacheco | 8,223 | Aprisman Aranda | 2 |
| 4 April – 21:30 | 4 | Persiraja | Away | | | | | |
| 9 April – 19:30 | 5 | PSM | Away | | | | | |
| 19 April – 19:30 | 6 | TIRA-Persikabo | Home | | | | | |
| 23 April – 21:30 | 7 | Persib | Away | | | | | |
| 4 May – 21:30 | 8 | PSIS | Home | | | | | |
| 18 May – 21:30 | 10 | Persebaya | Home | | | | | |
| 31 May – 19:30 | 9 | Borneo | Away | | | | | |
| 12 June – 16:30 | 11 | Bhayangkara | Away | | | | | |
| 19 June – 16:30 | 12 | Persik | Home | | | | | |
| 28 June – 16:30 | 13 | Persija | Away | | | | | |
| 2 July – 21:30 | 14 | Persipura | Home | | | | | |
| 7 July – 19:30 | 15 | Persela | Away | | | | | |
| 15 July – 18:30 | 16 | Arema | Home | | | | | |
| 19 July – 19:30 | 17 | PSS | Away | | | | | |
| 24 July – 16:30 | 18 | Persita | Away | | | | | |
| 28 July – 19:30 | 19 | Barito Putera | Home | | | | | |
| 2 August – 19:30 | 20 | Madura United | Away | | | | | |
| 6 August – 19:30 | 21 | Persiraja | Home | | | | | |
| 14 August – 19:00 | 22 | PSM | Home | | | | | |
| 18 August – 16:30 | 23 | TIRA-Persikabo | Away | | | | | |
| 22 August – 21:30 | 24 | Persib | Home | | | | | |
| 30 August – 16:30 | 25 | PSIS | Away | | | | | |
| 9 September – 19:30 | 26 | Borneo | Home | | | | | |
| 15 September – 16:30 | 27 | Persebaya | Away | | | | | |
| 19 September – 19:30 | 28 | Bhayangkara | Home | | | | | |
| 26 September – 16:30 | 29 | Persik | Away | | | | | |
| 4 October – 19:30 | 30 | Persija | Home | | | | | |
| 14 October – 16:30 | 31 | Persipura | Away | | | | | |
| 19 October – 19:30 | 32 | Persela | Home | | | | | |
| 25 October – 16:30 | 33 | Arema | Away | | | | | |
| TBD – --:-- | 34 | PSS | Home | | | | | |

### AFC Champions League

AFC Champions League match details :
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Referee |
| 14 January – 19:30 | Preliminary round 1 | Tampines Rovers | Away | 5–3 (a.e.t.) | Platje (2), Rahmat, Lilipaly, Saimima | 1,400 | Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim |
| 21 January – 16:35 | Preliminary round 2 | Melbourne Victory | Away | 0–5 | | 5,387 | Mohammed Al-Hoish |

### AFC Cup

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Ceres–Negros | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 7 |
| 2 | Than Quảng Ninh | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Svay Rieng | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 3 |
| 4 | Bali United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 3 |
* 1 2 Head-to-head points: Svay Rieng 3, Bali United 0.
AFC Cup match details :
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Referee |
| 11 February – 19:30 | Group stage | Than Quảng Ninh | Home | 4–1 | Rahmat, Platje (2), Spasojević | 5,750 | Masoud Tufayelieh |
| 25 February – 19:00 | Group stage | Svay Rieng | Away | 1–2 | Spasojević | 2,106 | Mahmood Al-Majarafi |
| 11 March – 19:30 | Group stage | Ceres–Negros | Away | 0–4 | | 1 | Sadullo Gulmurodi |
| 23 September – --:-- | Group stage | Ceres–Negros | Neutral | | | | |
| 26 September – --:-- | Group stage | Than Quảng Ninh | Neutral | | | | |
| 29 September – --:-- | Group stage | Svay Rieng | Neutral | | | | |

## Player details
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Liga 1 | Liga 1 | AFC CL | AFC CL | AFC Cup | AFC Cup | ASEAN CC | ASEAN CC |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | IDN | Nadeo Argawinata | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 (98) | MF | IDN | Arapenta Poerba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | IRQ | Brwa Nouri | 8 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | NED | Melvin Platje | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | IDN | Muhammad Taufiq | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | IDN | Ilija Spasojević | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | IDN | Lerby Eliandry | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | IDN | Yabes Roni | 5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | IDN | Gunawan Dwi Cahyo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | IDN | Fadil Sausu (captain) | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | IDN | Gavin Kwan Adsit | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | IDN | Hariono | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | IDN | Irfan Jauhari | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | IDN | I Kadek Agung Widnyana | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | IDN | Sidik Saimima | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0+2 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | IDN | Rakasurya Handika | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | IDN | Dias Angga Putra | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | IDN | Fahmi Al-Ayyubi | 4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | IDN | Ricky Fajrin | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | IDN | Agus Nova Wiantara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | IDN | Rian Firmansyah | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | IDN | Leonard Tupamahu | 5 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | IDN | I Made Andhika Wijaya | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | DF | IDN | Haudi Abdillah | 4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | DF | BRA | Willian Pacheco | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 | GK | IDN | Wawan Hendrawan | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 (91) | MF | IDN | Rahmat | 7 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 80 | MF | POR | Paulo Sérgio | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 85 | DF | IDN | Michael Orah | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 87 | MF | IDN | Stefano Lilipaly | 6 | 2 | 1+1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 93 | GK | IDN | Samuel Reimas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Source: Match results
* Ordered by player's number.
* No. in bracket is the player's number in AFC Competitions.

### Disciplinary record

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Total | Liga 1 | Liga 1 | Liga 1 | AFC CL | AFC CL | AFC CL | AFC Cup | AFC Cup | AFC Cup | ASEAN CC | ASEAN CC | ASEAN CC |
| 6 | MF | IRQ | Brwa Nouri | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | NED | Melvin Platje | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | IDN | Ilija Spasojević | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | IDN | Gavin Kwan Adsit | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | IDN | Hariono | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | IDN | Fahmi Al-Ayyubi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | IDN | Ricky Fajrin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | DF | IDN | Haudi Abdillah | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | DF | BRA | Willian Pacheco | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 87 | MF | IDN | Stefano Lilipaly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 |
| 28 December 2019 | MF | Hariono | Persib | Free transfer |
| 28 December 2019 | DF | Gavin Kwan Adsit | Barito Putera | Free transfer |
| 29 December 2019 | GK | Nadeo Argawinata | Borneo | Undisclosed |
| 31 December 2019 | MF | Rahmat | PSM | Undisclosed |
| 5 January 2020 | FW | Lerby Eliandry | Borneo | Undisclosed |
| 6 January 2020 | MF | Sidik Saimima | PSS | Free transfer |
| 12 January 2020 | MF | Reza Irfana | Youth sector | Promoted |
| 12 January 2020 | MF | Kadek Haarlem Anggariva | Youth sector | Promoted |
| 22 February 2020 | FW | Irfan Jauhari | Youth sector | Promoted |
| 23 July 2020 | FW | Kadek Dimas Satria | Youth sector | Promoted |
| 23 July 2020 | DF | Komang Tri | Youth sector | Promoted |

### Transfers out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 27 December 2019 | MF | Ahmad Agung | PSM | Free transfer |
| 28 December 2019 | MF | Ahmad Maulana Putra | Semen Padang | Free transfer |
| 28 December 2019 | DF | Adi Parwa | Sulut United | Free transfer |
| 29 December 2019 | GK | Diky Indrayana | Borneo | Free transfer |
| 29 December 2019 | GK | I Putu Pager Wirajaya | Mitra Kukar | Free transfer |
| 30 December 2019 | MF | I Nyoman Sukarja | Free agent | Released |
| 30 December 2019 | FW | Aldino Herdianto | Badak Lampung | Free transfer |
| 31 December 2019 | FW | Martinus Novianto | PSIM | Free transfer |
| 31 December 2019 | DF | Dallen Doke | Persita | Free transfer |
| 16 January 2020 | MF | Miftahul Hamdi | Persiraja | Undisclosed |
| 12 February 2020 | FW | Irfan Bachdim | PSS | Undisclosed |
| 4 August 2020 | DF | Anan Lestaluhu | Free agent | Released |
| 5 October 2020 | MF | Paulo Sérgio | Free agent | Released |
* ↑ Joined on 8 January 2020.
* ↑ Joined on 27 February 2020.
* ↑ Joined on 28 December 2019.
* ↑ Joined on 7 January 2020.
* ↑ Joined on 22 February 2020.
* ↑ Joined on 15 January 2020.
* ↑ Joined on 8 February 2020.
* ↑ Joined on 9 January 2020.

### Loans out

| Start date | Pos. | Name | To | End date |
| 17 January 2020 | DF | Gusti Sandria | Sulut United | End of season |
| 27 August 2020 | DF | Agus Nova Wiantara | Sulut United | End of season |
| 30 August 2020 | FW | Hanis Saghara Putra | PSMS | End of season |
* ↑ Back early out of necessity.