In the final game of a blockbuster ‘Super Saturday’ in the Hyundai A-League, struggling Perth Glory play host to third-placed Melbourne City at nib Stadium.
Still reeling from last weekend’s heartbreaking loss to Wellington Phoenix, Glory will be desperate to bounce back on home soil.
Kenny Lowe’s side do have a superb recent record against City at home, winning seven of the last nine matches between the two sides in the West.
But Perth have struggled on home soil in recent matches having picked up just two wins from their past six fixtures, losing the other four.
City won the earlier fixture between the two sides 2-0 at nib in Round 15, with the departed Ross McCormack netted both goals for Warren Joyce’s side.
The Melbourne outfit had the week off last weekend but will still be hurting from a 4-0 loss to league-leaders Sydney FC a fortnight ago.
Depending on results, a win for City could see them close the gap to second-placed Newcastle Jets to just two points with six rounds remaining.
Check out some of the other key stats and facts ahead of the clash in the West.
- Melbourne City are on the hunt for back-to-back wins against Perth Glory for the first time since 2012/13 after picking up a 2-0 win in their last encounter.
- Perth Glory have won seven of their last nine games against Melbourne City at nib Stadium, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
- Perth have won only two of their last six games at nib Stadium (L4), and will be looking to pick up back-to-back wins there for the first time since Round 5.
- Melbourne City are undefeated in their last three games away from home (W2, D1), the last time they went longer without a road loss was a four-game streak at the end of 2015 (W3, D1).
- Melbourne City have registered nine errors that have led to a goal in the current campaign; three more than any other team to date.
- No team has recorded fewer clean sheets this season than Perth Glory (2); only Sydney (10) have registered more than Melbourne City (6).
- Marcin Budziński has been directly involved in each of City’s last three goals on the road; scoring twice and claiming an assist.
- Perth’s Diego Castro has been directly involved in four of his side’s last five goals however; scoring on three occasions as well as recording an assist.
