The Hyundai A-League leaders face the reigning champions in what should be a classic clash to kick off Round 15 in Melbourne on Friday night.
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Friday, 15 January 2016
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar FC
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 7:40 PM (Local) (7:40 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis
Assistant Referee 2: Luke Brennan
Fourth Official: Jonathan Barreiro
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT), SBS TWO from 7:30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Crocmedia A-League Live (www.facebook.com/A-leagueLIVERadio)
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To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 4.Nick ANSELL, 6.Leigh BROXHAM (c), 7.Gui FINKLER, 8.Besart BERISHA, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.Matthieu DELPIERRE, 18.Dylan MURNANE, 19.George HOWARD, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 23.Jai INGHAM, 32.Stefan NIGRO, 33.Joey KATEBIAN
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 19.George HOWARD, 32.Stefan NIGRO, 33.Joey KATEBIAN (all promoted)
Outs: 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (suspended – 1 match)
Unavailable: 2.Jason GERIA (Olyroos duty), 3.Scott GALLOWAY (Olyroos duty), 11.Connor PAIN (Olyroos duty), 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO (Olyroos duty), 21.Carl VALERI (ill – indefinite), 24.Thomas DENG (Olyroos duty)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.CORONA, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10.HENRIQUE, 11.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 16.Devante CLUT, 17.Matt McKAY (c), 18.Javier HERVAS, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Shannon BRADY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 33.Luke DEVERE
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 16.Devante CLUT, 33.Luke DEVERE (all promoted)
Outs: 36.Andre JANNESE (gk) (omitted)
Unavailable: 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 15.James DONACHIE, 28.Brandon BORRELLO (all on Olyroos duty)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
It has taken half the Hyundai A-League season for Melbourne Victory to play Brisbane Roar, with the title-holders set to host the Queenslanders at AAMI Park on Friday.
The symbolism of this clash will be fascinating as the stuttering champions take on the side leading the charge to inherit their A-League crown.
Brisbane top the table by a point from Western Sydney Wanderers and haven’t lost in five matches, while Victory have only triumphed once in their past seven games, including last week’s come-from-behind 3-3 draw with bottom club Central Coast Mariners.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat reckons he has just “10 match-fit bodies” for this fixture, with full-back Daniel Georgievski the latest on the Big V’s absentee list due to a one-week suspension.
Melbourne are missing Jason Geria, Thomas Deng, Connor Pain, Giancarlo Gallifuoco and Scott Galloway due to Olyroos duty.
The Roar have Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello out for the same reason, and last week – in their first match without the key attacking duo – Brisbane were held scoreless for the first time in nine matches.
An undermanned Wellington Phoenix held John Aloisi’s side to a 0-0 draw and Muscat will hope his similarly bare-bones line-up can at least pick up a point versus Brisbane.
Victory have not lost to the Roar since the 2013-14 finals, winning the past three meetings.
Goalkeeper Michael Theo is back in Brisbane’s squad for the first time since Round 2 after a long fight with injury.
OPTA DATA
Brisbane have won one and drawn three of their last six away games against Victory and they’ve conceded only three goals in their last four
Victory are undefeated in their last six A-League regular season home fixtures (W5, D1), scoring 14 goals in the process
Muscat’s men have conceded only one goal in the opening 15 minutes of the second half this season, the equal fewest of any team alongside both Sydney-based clubs
The Roar have scored four of their 22 goals so far this season in the same period, bettered only by Melbourne City (9)
ROUTE TO GOAL
The jury remains out over whether Aloisi’s back-up strikers Henrique and Jean Carlos Solorzano can make up for the absence of Maclaren and Borrello, while the Olyroos campaign to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games goes on.
Maclaren (7 goals, 3 assists) and Borrello (5, 1) have been the Roar’s most effective forwards in 2015-16.
Last week, Henrique (4, 0) and Solorzano (0, 1) failed to break through Wellington’s defence.
But the Latin American duo may not get a better chance to start a scoring spree than against Victory’s undermanned back four.
Muscat’s two main options at right-back are Rashid Mahazi, who would be playing out of position, and Stefan Nigro, who has yet to make his senior debut for Victory.
Meanwhile, youngster Dylan Murnane will be at left-back and Leigh Broxham will partner Matthieu Delpierre in central defence.
Victory’s second half against the Mariners again teased A-League pundits and fans alike by serving as a reminder of what the title-holders can do at their best.
Kosta Barbarouses and Archie Thompson were inspired in that comeback in Geelong, while Besart Berisha struck twice to take his season tally to 10 goals.
There is no doubt Victory’s best is enough to make them contenders for A-League silverware but Muscat is well aware that his team doesn’t stay in top gear for long enough at the moment.
The key for the home side could be how much control they can have in midfield – a worrying concept when up against the likes of Corona, Matt McKay, Dimi Petratos and Thomas Broich.
WHO’S IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Oliver Bozanic. Melbourne Victory fans seem to be losing patience with the midfielder, who was taken off before the Big V completed their comeback last week.
FORM LINES
Melbourne Victory: LLDWD
Brisbane Roar: WWWWD
PREDICTION
Melbourne Victory 1-2 Brisbane Roar
