The reigning champs, bruised and battered after last week’s loss, meet a Victory side still hurting from their demolition derby loss. Expect even more intensity when these two bitter rivals meet in the SA capital on Saturday night.
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Saturday, 22 October 2016
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-Off: 7:20PM (Local) (7:50PM (AEDT))
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo
Fourth Official: Daniel Elder
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on Fox Sports 505 from 7.45pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 891 ABC Adelaide & ABC Local Radio SA, 774 ABC Melbourne & ABC Local Radio Vic, Grandstand Digital & Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live, 1116 SEN (Melbourne), EON Sports Radio (eonsportsradio.com), FIVEaa
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvMVC
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 3.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Taylor REGAN, 7.HENRIQUE, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergi GUARDIOLA, 14.George MELLS, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 18.Riley McGREE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Ryan KITTO, 24.Jordan O’DOHERTY, 25.James HOLLAND, 45.Danny CHOI
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Taylor REGAN (new signing), 14.George MELLS (promoted), 45.Danny CHOI (promoted)
Outs: 11.Sergio CIRIO (knee – 8-10 weeks)
Unavailable: 2.Michael MARRONE (achilles – 10 weeks), 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA (foot – 5 weeks), 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC (quad – 4 weeks), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee – season)
Melbourne Victory squad: 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Marco ROJAS, 8.Besart BERISHA, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15.Alan BARO, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.James DONACHIE, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 25.Sebastian PASQUALI, 27.Alastair BRAY (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 16.Rashid MAHAZI (promoted), 22.Stefan NIGRO (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 10.James TROISI (collarbone – 2-3 weeks)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
The injuries just keep stacking up for the reigning champions and premiers.
Adelaide found out this week that Sergio Cirio will miss up to 10 weeks with a knee injury sustained in the Reds’ 2-1 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers.
Cirio was crunched early by Western Sydney full-back Jack Clisby and the Spaniard’s medial ligament in his right knee failed to recover.
The winger joins Michael Marrone (Achilles tendon), Marcelo Carrusca (foot), Nikola Mileusnic (quadriceps) and Jordan Elsey (knee) on the long-term injury list.
After a draw and loss to begin the new campaign, Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor has brought in new centre-back Taylor Regan, while FFA Cup star Danny Choi has also been promoted and may get a chance in place of Cirio.
Victory will arrive at Coopers Stadium still smarting from last week’s 4-1 thumping at the hands of local rivals Melbourne City.
The Big V have rarely been so comprehensively outplayed in the Melbourne derby and coach Kevin Muscat will be demanding a much improved performance in Adelaide.
Victory haven’t won in South Australia in their past eight visits, while the Reds have only triumphed once in the past nine editions of this fixture – although that was in the most recent meeting.
The visitors won’t have new signing Maxi Beister available, while James Troisi (collarbone) remains on the sidelines.
OPTA DATA
Hyundai A-League stats: is possession king?
ROUTE TO GOAL
With Cirio out, expect Ryan Kitto to slot into Amor’s starting line-up for Saturday night’s clash.
Kitto scored two goals and set up another four in his 18 games for Newcastle Jets last season and has looked lively off the bench in Adelaide’s opening two matches of the new campaign, while new striker Sergi Guardiola has also impressed despite having yet to find the net.
Victory were uncharacteristically toothless in the derby although many of their problems stemmed from the midfield and defence.
Muscat will be looking for a lot more from Mitch Austin, Marco Rojas and Oliver Bozanic this week so that Besart Berisha receives better service around Adelaide’s goal.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Henrique. The former Brisbane Roar favourite notched his first goal in a red shirt last week and appears to be thriving as a starting player in Adelaide.
FORM LINES
Adelaide United: DL
Melbourne Victory: DL
PREDICTION
Adelaide United 1-1 Melbourne Victory
