Brisbane Roar will be out for revenge on Saturday evening as they host Melbourne City still searching for their first win of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.
City knocked Roar out of the finals last season, winning an Elimination Final in Melbourne 2-0 thanks to goals from Stefan Mauk and Nick Fitzgerald.
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Midfielder Mauk scored in three consecutive fixtures against the Roar last term before making the move north to join John Aloisi’s side.
Brisbane – who were bundled out of the FFA Cup by City in August – are yet to hit their straps this season, with three draws and one loss from their first four fixtures.
And slow starts are continually costing the Roar, who were again caught napping in Mudgee last week, conceding two early goals before bravely fighting back to claim a 2-2 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers.
City, on the other hand, are in good touch, with two wins and a draw leaving them third on the Hyundai A-League table. They will also welcome back key midfielder Luke Brattan.
And Bruno Fornaroli’s first strike of the campaign – which came in in last week’s 2-0 success against Wellington Phoenix – will have delighted coach Warren Joyce, who is banking on the Uruguayan to have another impressive season in front of goal.
KEY OPTA STATS
- Brisbane Roar have won six of their last nine games against Melbourne City at Suncorp Stadium; however, City came up trumps in their most recent encounter here (2-1, February 2018).
- City will be out to notch up a third straight victory over the Roar, which would equal their longest winning streak against them (W3, 2014/15).
- Brisbane Roar have not recorded a win in their first four appearances this season (D3, L1); only once in A-League history have they gone longer before registering their first win of the season (5 games in 2017/18).
INS AND OUTS
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Brendan WHITE (gk), 4.Daniel BOWLES, 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Adam TAGGART, 11.Eric BAUTHEAC, 13.Stefan MAUK, 14.Alex LOPEZ, 15.Stefan NIGRO, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 18.Joe CALETTI, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Tobias MIKKELSEN, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 33.HENRIQUE
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 13.Stefan MAUK (returns from injury), 15.Stefan NIGRO (promoted), 18.Joe CALETTI (promoted)
Outs: 2.Dane INGHAM (quad – 1 week)
Unavailable: 10.Brett HOLMAN (knee – TBC)
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ritchie De LAET, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c) , 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Riley MCGREE, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 19.Lachlan WALES, 21.Ramy NAJJARINE, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 34.Connor METCALFE
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 21.Ramy NAJJARINE (promoted), 26.Luke BRATTAN (promoted),
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Osama MALIK (calf), 11.Michael O’HALLORAN (hamstring)
HOW TO WATCH
Tune in on FOX SPORTS 505 or 10 BOSS from 7:30pm AEDT for the second leg of ‘Matchday Saturday’ or watch through the MyFootball Live App.
TICKETS
Be there for Roar’s clash with City. Secure your seat here.
