Total A-Leagues is back for another season and the expert panel have had their say on this weekend’s mouthwatering Melbourne Derby in Matchweek 2 of the 2026/27 A-League Men season.
Hosted by Adam Peacock, the four-man panel of A-League great Daniel McBreen, Socceroo Luke Brattan and Sydney Morning Herald Football reporter Vince Rugari cast their eyes over all the big storylines in the A-League Men, with this weekend’s derby clash between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City getting spcial attention.
Both sides opened their 2026/27 A-League Men accounts with defeats across the Tasman as Victory suffered a 2-1 loss to Wellington while City were beaten 3-1 by reigning Champions Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium.
MUST READ: A-League Men Preview: What you need to know for Matchweek 2
With the Melbourne Derby now taking centre stage on Saturday night the Total A-Leagues crew highlighted what they believe could be the key tactical battle between Giovanni Savarese’s Melbourne Victory and Aurelio Vidmar’s Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
“When you look at the midfields from the two Melbourne teams last week, [in] that midfield for Melbourne victory you’ve got Denis Genreau, Guillermo May Guillermo and Jordi Valadon, three really experienced players in the A-League now,” McBreen said.
“The three that went out for Melbourne City on the weekend: [Quinn] MacNicol, [Kavian] Rahmani, and [Besian] Kutleshi. Now, there’s a real imbalance there with age and experience.
“Whether or not you’re going to see a [Matthew] Leckie come in and start next week, [but] if that’s the three starting midfielders next week, Savarese should be saying to his three midfield, if you don’t dominate there, there’s a major problem.
“They have to dominate that midfield area. They have to take control of the game.
ON THE WHISTLE: Championship winner highlights key issue hindering Victory boss Savarese
“In there, they have to be ‘we’re going to bully the young guys out of this game,’ not just physically, but in in the way that they move, in their positioning, the way they move the ball quickly.
“I can see that’s the big head to head for me, not just a single player, but that position could be the crux of where the game could be won or lost.”
Socceroo and ex-Sydney FC and Macarthur Bulls midfielder Brattan agreed, stating his belief that if the two midfields are the same as last weekend, there will be a clear winner.
“Those three should not just overrun the City midfield, but destroy them with the ball as well.
“And as a player, that’s very disheartening. If you’re in the midfield and you’re getting bopped repeatedly, it is very tough, especially in a Derby when the emotions are high.
“So, if I was Victory, I’d be saying get the ball down and play through the midfield and just be relentless because if you take control of that, then the rest of the game takes care of itself.
He continued: “I think he [Genreau] has to play well. There’s big expectations on him, so he has to now step up. I I know he he was sick during pre-season and missed a big chunk of pre-season, so it’s good to see him back and fit and playing.
“But yeah, he has to be the main man I think in there, if Victory have any expectations this season, yeah, it’s got to be him.”
Total A-Leagues is BACK for season 2026/27, with episodes released every Wednesday at 5pm AEDT on the A-Leagues YouTube channel and the aleagues.com.au.
