Melbourne Victory will aim to exploit a more adventurous Suwon Bluewings when the two sides meet in a crucial Group G AFC Champions League clash in Korea on Wednesday night.
Victory is currently second in Group G at the halfway point and will take a giant leap towards an historic knockout-phase with a win over the K-League side at the Big Bird Stadium.
Click here for the official AFC Champions League site
Click here for the official Victory site
But coach Kevin Muscat knows it will be a tough task, with the two-time ACL champions on their last chance to keep their hopes of progression alive.
Shanghai SIPG leads the group with six points, ahead of the Victory on five points, while Gamba Osaka and Suwon trail with two points each.
“We’ve analysed them [Suwon] in the last two games since we’ve played them and they’ve played a settled team,” Muscat told Victory’s site in Korea.
“A little bit of a different team than the one that came out to Melbourne, with a lot more experience.
“The way the group sits for them, they’ll have one home game left [after this match] so it’s really a game they must win.
“We’re anticipating they’ll approach it like that and try and be a little bit more adventurous than they were in Melbourne.”
A win for Victory on Wednesday would bring with it a great reward, seeing the club jump to eight points and almost assured of a place in the last 16.
Key points
*Victory and Suwon played out a dour goalless draw in Melbourne last month.
*Victory has never reached the knockout stage of the ACL in four previous campaigns.
*Star striker Besart Berisha is available and will almost certainly start.
It’s an exciting proposition for the Hyundai A-League club but Muscat says maintaining their focus is the key for his side.
“It’s a big night for us. You get to this point and you start thinking of maybe where you can end up.
“The reality suggests as soon as you start doing that you trip up and miss something along the way.
“Internally we understand it’s first and foremost our preparation, then our attitude and obviously our application which is the hardest thing and what the boys are going to have to go out there and do.
“There is a little bit of confidence though after the last couple of performances,” Muscat added.
Victory face Premiership aspirants Brisbane Roar in Melbourne this Saturday in the final round of the Hyundai A-League.
