Melbourne City are clinging on to second place after two matches without a win and head coach Erick Mombaerts goes in search of his first Derby triumph against Melbourne Victory on Friday.
The 2019/20 Hyundai A-League campaign opened with a 0-0 deadlock draw between the local rivals in Round 1, before Victory claimed bragging rights thanks to an Ola Toivonen double in a 2-1 win in Round 11.
City have came up short in recent weeks – with a 3-1 loss at Adelaide making it only one win in four games – and they remain a point ahead of third-placed Perth Glory in the ladder, having played an extra match.
And Mombaerts may have a defensive headache on his hands, with Harrison Delbridge suspended and Jack Hendry ruled out for an indefinite period following knee surgery on an MCL injury sustained against the Reds.
Carlos Salvachua heads into his first Melbourne Derby as Victory head coach after securing the inaugural Hyundai A-League point of his tenure in 2-2 draw with the Premiers, Glory, last week.
A 90th-minute Nick D’Agostino goal robbed the Navy Blue of an upset win at HBF Park and ninth-placed Victory go again in search of their maiden Hyundai A-League victory of the Salvachua era on Friday night.
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Friday, 7 February 2020
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
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Team news
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Tom GLOVER (gk), 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.Florin BERENGUER 11.Craig NOONE, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 14.Markel SUSAETA, 17.Denis GENREAU, 19.Lachlan WALES, 20.Adrian LUNA, 21.Ramy NAJJARINE, 22.Curtis GOOD, 23.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 30.Moudi NAJJAR, 36.Kerrin STOKES, 34.Connor METCALFE, 49.Stefan COLAKOVSKI **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Scott JAMIESON (returns from suspension), 20.Adrian LUNA (returns from injury), 49.Stefan COLAKOVSKI (promoted), 36.Kerrin STOKES (promoted)
Outs: 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE (suspended – 2 weeks), 5.Jack HENDRY (knee)
Unavailable: 40.Richard WINDBICHLER (hamstring)
Melbourne Victory squad: 2.Storm ROUX, 4.James DONACHIE, 5.Tim HOOGLAND, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Jakob POULSEN, 9.Andrew NABBOUT, 10.Robbie KRUSE, 11.Ola TOIVONEN, 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 16.Josh HOPE, 17.Elvis KAMSOBA, 18.Migjen BASHA, 19.Ben CARRIGAN, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Adama TRAORE, 23. Marco ROJAS, 24.Anthony LESIOTIS, 25.Brandon LAUTON, 26.Jay BARNETT, 50.Brendan WHITE (gk) **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Tim HOOGLAND (promoted), 10.Robbie KRUSE (return from injury), 5.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO (new signing)
Outs: 6.Leigh BROXHAM (calf 2-3 weeks)
Unavailable: 1.Matt ACTON (shoulder)
Did you know?
- Melbourne City are winless in their last six Melbourne Derbies against Victory at AAMI Park.
- Victory are winless in their last four Hyundai A-League matches (D1, L3), the last time they endured a longer run was a seven-game stretch in 2017.
- City striker Jamie Maclaren has been directly involved in 17 goals (scored 13, assisted four) this season, the most of any player in the competition. But he’s scored just six goals in 14 matches against Victory.
- Victory have lost 14 points from winning positions this Hyundai A-League season, more than any other side in the competition.