It’s a blockbuster Friday night clash to start Hyundai A-League Round 3 as Melbourne City host Sydney FC at AAMI Park.
Both teams are unbeaten after collecting four points from their first two fixtures and are looking to nail their title ambitions to the mast with a win in this one, which gets underway at 7.50pm (AEDT).
Sydney FC will be eager to bounce back from their midweek FFA Cup Final 2018 loss to Adelaide United, while City shouldn’t be short on confidence after snatching a late draw away to Central Coast Mariners in Round 2.
TOTW: Check out our best XI for Round 2
HEROIC MOMENTS: How Taylor bounced back for Phoenix
WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
KEY OPTA STATS
- Sydney FC have won their last five games on the bounce against Melbourne City, scoring three or more goals on four occasions in that time.
- Melbourne City have won only one of their last six games against Sydney FC at AAMI Park, (D1, L4), failing to score a single goal in their last two such fixtures.
- Melbourne City have won their last three games on the bounce at AAMI Park, the last time they won more on the bounce at the venue was a four-game streak across February and March in 2016.
THEY SAID IT
It will be a good match up. It’s early in the season but we’re confident, we’re going to approach the game like we approach every game.
We want to go out there and we want to win so we’re putting the work in the training ground, doing our research and we should be good.
– Melbourne City attacker Riley McGree
INS AND OUTS
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ritchie De LAET, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c) , 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Riley MCGREE, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 19.Lachlan WALES, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 39.Anthony LESIOTIS, 51.Idris ABDULAHI
** two to be omitted **
Ins: 39.Anthony LESIOTIS (promoted), 51.Idrus ABDULAHI (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Osama MALIK (calf), 11.Michael O’HALLORAN (hamstring)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Aaron CALVER, 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jop van der LINDEN, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Daniel DE SILVA, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 20.Alex CISAK (gk), 21.Charles LOKOLI-NGOY, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Cam DEVLIN, 25.Joel KING.
**one to be omitted**
Ins: 11.Daniel DE SILVA (promoted), 25.Joel KING (promoted).
Outs: 22.Siem DE JONG (6 weeks – hamstring)
Unavailable: 3.Ben WARLAND (foot – 6 weeks), 12.Trent BUHAGIAR (ACL – indefinite), 19.Chris ZUVELA (knee – indefinite)
HOW TO WATCH
Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to catch the Friday night fixture, which kicks off at 7.50pm (AEDT). You can also stream the match on the MyFootball Live App, which is live, fast and data-free for Telstra mobile customers.
TICKETS
Secure your seat for City’s clash with Sydney FC here.
