Match preview: Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory

A mammoth task awaits Brisbane Roar on Friday night when they host the Hyundai A-League’s hottest team right now, Melbourne Victory.

John Aloisi’s Roar enter the Suncorp Stadium clash after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Newcastle Jets in the Hunter, a result which dropped the club to second last on the ladder.

While it’s not quite desperation stakes just yet, the Roar won’t want to give the sides above them too much head start in the race for a top six spot.

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Points on the board are vital, especially with the hectic festive period fast approaching. Roar have just one win for the season – a 2-0 success over Victory’s neighbours Melbourne City last month.

But they can hold onto the fact they are unbeaten at Suncorp Stadium in 2018/19. Still, it won’t be easy against a Victory side that are simply on another level right now.

Five wins in a row has catapulted the champions into second spot, hot on the heels of league-leading Perth Glory, who are two points clear at the summit.

It’s not just the results which will please coach Kevin Muscat, but some of his side’s play has been breathtaking.

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With imports Keisuke Honda and Ola Toivonen – as well as Caltex Socceroos hopefuls Terry Antonis and James Troisi – pulling the strings, it will take a huge performance for Roar to halt the Victory juggernaut.

Roar striker Adam Taggart is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance in the match as Brisbane aim to win back-to-back games against Victory for the first time in almost five years.

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Key Opta Stats

  • Brisbane Roar have failed to score a first-half goal in each of their last four Hyundai A-League games against Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium. However, they’ve gone on to pick up two wins and a draw in that time.
  • Victory come into this game on the back of a five-game winning streak. Only twice in Hyundai A-League history have they won more in succession (eight games – February to October 2006, six games December 2016 to January 2017).
  • Roar are undefeated in their last five Hyundai A-League games at Suncorp Stadium (W3, D2) – they had lost six of their last seven games at home (with one win) immediately before this run.

Ins and Outs

Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Brendan WHITE (gk), 2.Dane INGHAM, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Adam TAGGART, 11.Eric BAUTHEAC, 13.Stefan MAUK, 14.Alex LOPEZ, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Tobias MIKKELSEN, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 33.HENRIQUE

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 13.Stefan Mauk (returns from suspension), 26.Nicholas D’AGOSTINO (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 10.Brett HOLMAN (knee)

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Corey BROWN, 4.Keisuke HONDA, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Terry ANTONIS, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 11.Ola TOIVONEN, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 14.Thomas DENG, 16.Josh HOPE, 19.Rahmat AKBARI, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Nick ANSELL, 26.Nicholas SETTE, 30. Matthew Sutton (gk)

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 22.Nick ANSELL (return from injury) 21.Nicholas SETTE (promoted), 30. Matthew Sutton (promoted)

Outs: Georg NIEDERMEIER (ankle – TBC)

Unavailable: Kenny ATHIU (hamstring – TBC), Jai Ingham (quad – TBC), 15.Raul BAENA (hamstring – TBC)

Jamie Young

How to watch

Do not miss any of the action on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:50pm AEDT or through the MyFootball Live App.

Tickets

Be there as the in-form Victory head to Suncorp to face the Roar. Secure your seat here.

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