Bankwest Stadium will be packed to the rafters as a new era of the Sydney Derby gets under way on Saturday.
Western Sydney Wanderers host the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Champions, Sydney FC, for the first time at a sold-out Wanderland in the 22nd Sydney Derby.
The Harbour City neighbours are the only clubs who have kicked-off their 2019/20 campaigns with back-to-back victories and the fierce rivals will be fighting to extend their winning run in the 30,000-capacity stadium in Parramatta.
After three years in the wilderness, Markus Babbel’s side christened their new home stadium with a 2-1 win against Central Coast Mariners in Round 1, before repeating that scoreline on the road against Melbourne Victory in Round 2.
Steve Corica led his charges to a 3-2 win in Adelaide in the 2019/20 season curtain raiser before returning to home soil and beating Wellington Phoenix 2-1 last week.
Departed Wanderer Alexander Baumjohann will face his former club, while ex-Sky Blue Matthew Jurman has also crossed the divide in the other direction.
We are proud to announce that tomorrow night's #SydneyDerby at @BankwestStadium is officially SOLD OUT! 🔥
Read more here: https://t.co/lFpN4GoxKt #WSW pic.twitter.com/Jm97j9hDFg
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) October 25, 2019
MATCH PREVIEW: Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
HOW TO WATCH: The first Sydney Derby at Bankwest Stadium
ANNOUNCEMENT: Bankwest Stadium a sell out for its first Sydney Derby
“These are the biggest games. Fans live for these derbies,” said Baumjohann, who scored for Wanderers against Sydney FC in 2018/19.
“They were not happy that I left and that just motivates me. I am not looking back.”
Additionally, the McGowan brothers collide as Sydney FC’s Ryan and Western Sydney’s Dylan lock horns for the first time in their careers.
The four-time Hyundai A-League Champions, Sydney FC, lead the overall head-to-head 11 wins to four, with six draws, but Western Sydney’s Daniel Georgievski believes change is coming.
“It’s all new,” said Georgievski.
“What happened before, grab it and throw it in the bin.”
“We’re not looking at what happened before.”
Star signing Nicolai Müller could be in line for a Wanderers debut in what is sure to be a cauldron-like atmosphere as a new chapter of this storied feud opens on a brand new battleground at 7.30pm AEDT on Saturday, 26 October.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6097249903001
DERBY: Jurman, Baumjohann brace for contrasting derby receptions
‘WE LIKE TO GET STUCK IN’: McGowans set for fiery Sydney Derby battle
‘This team is different’
Wanderers chief Babbel is confident that an all-new venue for the Sydney Derby can bring an all-new mentality from his Red and Black side.
“In old derbies, Sydney were not that much better than us but we always find ways to lose,” said Babbel.
“We hope we have learned from the easy mistakes that we did. To be fair, we have a different team now.
“Last year the quality was not this high. The spirit now in the team is different.”
Captain Mitchell Duke gives credit to Western Sydney’s new imports for helping raise the standard at the club in the 2019/20 season.
“With Pirmin [Schwegler], Alex Meier, these players have unbelievable resumes and experience under their belt,” Duke said.
“They help guide us. We’re quite a youthful team as well, so that helps us to get better. They really help push us through.”
📍 Home.#WSW #SydneyDerby pic.twitter.com/tGMfXNNNYp
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) October 24, 2019
Although the game is so important to fans on both sides, Duke believes this Sydney Derby has captured the imagination of the football nation.
“I’m quite active on social media and I can see from neutrals, they are buzzing about this game even though they don’t support either team.
“That’s awesome for the league, it’s important to get those amazing atmospheres and those big crowds.”
Babbel is more than aware that beating the Hyundai A-League Champions would be a statement of what Wanderers are capable of.
“I know how important it is for our supporters,” Babbel said.
“We can give something back for the last two years. We know this is a strong side, the Champions.
“We have to find a way we can hurt them, I think we can.”
Ninkovic believes new-look Wanderers should finish in top four
Catch Milos Ninkovic's pre-match press conference and see what he had to say ahead of Saturday's massive #SydneyDerby! 🗣#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions pic.twitter.com/5vmB3wJIeL
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) October 24, 2019
Milos Ninkovic is prepared for a much-improved Western Sydney and the Sydney FC talisman has tipped the Sky Blues’ rivals for a top four finish in 2019/20.
Wanderers have fallen short of the Hyundai A-League Finals Series in the past two seasons but Ninkovic believes Babbel’s new recruits will make a difference.
“They have a good team this year. They have signed some good players, very experienced players,” Ninkovic said.
“The last couple of years, we were on the top and they did not have some of their best results.
“I think this year probably they will be in the top three, top four teams in the A-League.”
Ways to watch
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Full broadcast details for 2019/20
