Tony Popovic returns to Western Sydney for the first time as he brings his league-leading Perth Glory to take on the Wanderers at Spotless Stadium on Sunday (kick off 7.00pm AEDT).
While table positions would suggest an easy evening for the boys from Western Australia, Markus Babbel’s Wanderers are buoyant after recording back-to-back wins over the last fortnight.
If the Red and Black can take all three points in this one, it will be the first time in almost two years the club has won three matches in a row.
But while wins over the Mariners and Adelaide suggests it could be an exciting end to the season for the Wanderers, this will be a step-up in quality.
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Glory have been superb for the entire season, currently on a 10-game unbeaten run in the Hyundai A-League.
A win in this clash would not only set a new club record for games without defeat, it would also be a 15th for the campaign, which would be the most for the club in a single season.
And if the last meeting between these two is anything to go by, this will be an absolute cracker.
The Wanderers led 3-1 with just 11 minutes left at HBF Park last month, only to concede three times in a dramatic finish to lose 4-3.
Let’s hope for more of the same in the final match of Round 20 on Sunday night!
Key Opta stats
- Perth Glory have lost only one of their last eight Hyundai A-League games against Western Sydney Wanderers (W3, D4), and will be looking to secure back-to-back league wins against them for the first time since April 2015.
- The Wanderers have conceded 13 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this Hyundai A-League campaign, more than any other team in the competition.
- Three of Perth Glory’s last six goals scored away from home in the Hyundai A-League have come from the penalty spot, with each of those coming via the boot of Neil Kilkenny.
Ins and outs
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 7.Nick Fitzgerald, 8.Jordan O’DOHERTY, 9.Oriol RIERA, 10.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 11.Bruce KAMAU, 12.Mitchell DUKE, 13.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 14.Mathieu CORDIER, 17.Keanu BACCUS, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Rashid MAHAZI, 24.Raul LLORENTE, 28.Roly BONEVACIA, 33.Tate RUSSELL, 40.Nicholas SUMAN (gk), 49.Abraham MAJOK
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 7.Nick FITZGERALD (promoted), 19.Mark BRIDGE (promoted), 24.Raul LLORENTE (promoted)
Outs: 5.Brendan HAMILL (suspended – one week).
Unavailable: 18.Marc TOKICH (injury – for weeks), 24.Patrick ZIEGLER (injured – six weeks), 27.Kwame YEBOAH (injured – two weeks)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 3.Jason DAVIDSON, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 9.Andy KEOGH, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 15.Brandon WILSON , 17.Diego CASTRO, 19.Chris IKONOMIDIS, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 27.JUANDE, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 88.Neil KILKENNY
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 15.Brandon WILSON
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2.Alex GRANT (thigh – 1 week), 16.Tomislav MRCELA (thigh – 1 week)
How to watch
Finish off your football fix on Sunday by watching as the league-leading Glory meet the Wanderers from 7:00pm (AEDT) on FOX SPORTS 505, via the MyFootball Live App, or through Kayo Sports.
Tickets
Click here to secure your seat at Spotless Stadium for the Glory’s trip to play the Wanderers.
