Melbourne Victory’s AFC Champions League destiny is in its own hands when it hosts Japan’s Gamba Osaka on Tuesday night.
Put simply, a win will secure progression to the knockout stage of Asia’s premier club competition for the first time.
Anything less and Victory will have to rely on the result of the Suwon Bluewings-Shanghai SIPG game, which will be played simultaneously.
Victory is second in Group G, equal on six points with third-placed Suwon, with one game to go in the group stage.
With head-to-head results preferred over goal difference in the ACL, Victory will stay above Suwon if the teams end the group stage level on points.
While Gamba has already been eliminated, the Japanese side will undoubtedly provide a tough test once again for Victory.
The two teams have met on five previous occasions dating back to 2008, though Victory has never beaten Gamba.
Victory recorded a 1-1 draw when the teams last met in March, with Nick Ansell’s opening goal cancelled out by Yasuhito Endo’s second-half header in Japan.
Tickets for Tuesday night’s game are available by clicking here.
