Caltex Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren is set to make his Melbourne City debut in a clash with huge ramifications in the race for a top four finish.
Visitors to AAMI Park on Saturday night, Adelaide United, currently reside inside the top four courtesy of their astonishing comeback win over Brisbane Roar last weekend.
The Reds were down to 10 men and trailing 3-0 at Coopers Stadium before mounting arguably the greatest comeback in Hyundai A-League history to win 4-3.
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That result is sure to have confidence bubbling along nicely in Marco Kurz’s squad, which they will need to overturn their recent record against City at AAMI Park.
Warren Joyce’s men have won the last three clashes between the two sides at AAMI, including a 5-0 drubbing in their most recent meeting there 12 months ago.
City have dropped out of the top four themselves due to back-to-back defeats, including a 2-0 loss to Sydney FC last Sunday.
It was the second straight game they have been held scoreless and you have to go back more than four years since they went three straight games without finding the net.
Maclaren’s availability should ensure they can avoid that, with the former Hyundai A-League Golden Boot winner sure to add more punch to City’s misfiring attack.
The Reds have a bona fide superstar of their own though in Craig Goodwin, who has provided the club’s most assists this season with five, while no player has made more than his 69 crosses from open play.
Get set for another absorbing tussle between these two top four-chasers in a clash that can be seen LIVE and FREE on 10 Bold.
Key Opta stats
- Melbourne City are undefeated in their last five Hyundai games against Adelaide United (W4, D1) keeping four clean sheets in this span.
- The Reds are undefeated in their last four Hyundai A-League games and have not enjoyed an undefeated run of five games in the competition in a single season since the Grand Final of 2015/16.
- City’s Luke Brattan has scored four goals from outside the box this Hyundai A-League season, more than what the entire Adelaide United team have managed (three).
Ins and outs
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI, 2.Ritchie De LAET, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Riley MCGREE, 9.Shayon HARRISON, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 19.Lachlan WALES, 21.Ramy NAJJARINE, 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 28.Jamie MACLAREN, 36.Dylan PIERIAS **two to be omitted**
Ins: 9.Shayon HARRISON (new signing), 26.Jamie MACLAREN (new signing), 21.Ramy NAJJARINE (promoted)
Outs: 15.Kearyn BACCUS (yellow cards accumulation – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil
Adelaide United squad: 1.Daniel MARGUŠ (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Isaías SÁNCHEZ (c), , 11.Craig GOODWIN, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 19.Jordy THOMASSEN, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE, 31.Mirko BOLAND, 32.Carlo ARMIENTO **two to be omitted**
Ins: 19.Jordy THOMASSEN (promoted), 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE (promoted)
Outs: 10.Ken ILSØ (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 9.Baba DIAWARA (knee), 18.Lachlan BROOK (knee), 26.Ben HALLORAN (ankle)
How to watch
This crucial clash in the make-up of the top four can be seen LIVE and FREE on 10 Bold or tenplay, and on FOX SPORTS 505, with kick off at 7.50pm (AEDT). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers or by subscribing to Kayo Sports.
Tickets
Be there as City and the Reds meet in a vital battle for the top four by CLICKING HERE to secure your seat at AAMI Park.