Adelaide United head into Round 15 on a four-game losing streak, but history shows they’re more than a chance of turning it all around against Melbourne Victory.
The Reds are have won three games in a row against Victory in the Hyundai A-League; they last lost to Melbourne in Round 7 last season in early December, 2018.
A win at Coopers Stadium on Friday night will extend their winning run against the Victory to four Hyundai A-League games, a streak they’ve never before achieved against their Original Rivals.
Coopers Stadium has proved to be somewhat of a fortress for the Reds against their upcoming opponents; they’ve lost just two of their last 14 Hyundai A-League fixtures at home against Victory, with both losses coming in the 2016/17 campaign.
ROUND 15: How to watch Hyundai A-League Round 15
RECAP: Watch all the McDonald’s Mini Matches from Round 14
Melbourne come into the clash under new management with former assistant coach Carlos Salvachua taking the reins after the sacking of Marco Kurz, and they’ll be hoping to extend Adelaide’s losing streak to five with an instant response after the change of management.
The Reds will need to be mindful of Victory’s threat from the get-go; they’ve scored six goals in the opening 15 minutes of games so far this season, the joint-most of any team in the Hyundai A-League.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6107959747001
MATCH PREVIEW: Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
PRESSERS WRAP: Popovic, Glory eye record-breaking win over Wanderers
MORE: Jacewicz to become first female referee to officiate in Hyundai A-League
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
Friday, 17 January 2020
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
7:00pm (Local) (7:30pm (AEDT)
Roar hope Suncorp Stadium dominance will help end Wellington’s run of form
Wellington Phoenix are enjoying a nine-game unbeaten streak (W6, D3), their best ever unbeaten run in Hyundai A-League history, but that could all come to an end when they travel to face Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium, a notoriously difficult venue for the Phoenix on their travels.
Of 19 games played against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium Wellington have won just two, drawn four and lost 13, a statistic which will have Roar players, coaches and fans alike sniffing an upset.
The result may hinge on which side proves to be more efficient in the final third; Brisbane’s Jay O’Shea has played the most balls into the box of any player in the league this season (146), 49 more than Wellington’s best Ulises Dávila (97).
However, the Phoenix have shown far more attacking efficiency, passing in the final third at an accuracy of 67.1%, the highest in the Hyundai A-League.
If Brisbane can earn a positive result from their clash with the Phoenix it will equal their longest undefeated run (four games) since March 2018 when they also notched four games in a row without a loss.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6121644635001
MATCH PREVIEW: Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday, 18 January 2020
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
4:00pm (Local) (5:00pm (AEDT)
City poised to score freely against struggling Jets
Melbourne City’s attackers will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park this weekend.
City have averaged 2.4 goals a game in their last nine fixtures against the Jets, winning six times, losing twice and drawing once in that time.
When these two sides met at McDonald Jones Stadium in Round 10 City flexed their attacking muscle, scoring four goals to none in a dominant display, and Erick Mombaerts’ side will be out to inflict more damage on the league’s bottom side when they meet for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon.
The Jets are winless in six games (L5, D1), but they’ll take some encouragement from City’s recently sketchy home form; the league’s second-placed side has lost two of their last three games at AAMI Park.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115942544001
MATCH PREVIEW: Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, 18 January 2020
AAMI Park, Melbourne
7:30pm (Local) (7:30pm (AEDT)
Buy tickets
Match centre
NSW opponent a bad omen for Western as the Mariners come to town
They haven’t been in the league for long, but Western United have quickly developed a distaste for facing teams from their neighbouring state of New South Wales.
Western won their first-ever Hyundai A-League game against an NSW opponent when they beat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 in Round 5, but have gone winless from their following four clashes (D1, L3) losing to the Jets, Mariners and Sydney FC in consecutive weeks before drawing with the Wanderers in Round 11.
It’s the first time the Mariners travel to face Western in Melbourne as they head to GMHBA Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors will be more than prepared for any dangers Western pose with shots from long range, with goalkeeper Mark Birighitti leading the league in saves from shots outside the box (21), five more than Western’s Filip Kurto (16).
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6108242117001
MATCH PREVIEW: Western United FC v Central Coast Mariners
Western United v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday, 19 January 2020
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
4:00pm (Local) (4:00pm (AEDT)
Glory chase unprecedented club wins record in first trip to Bankwest Stadium
Perth Glory travel to face the fledgling Wanderers eyeing off a sixth consecutive win, the longest winning streak in the club’s Hyundai A-League history, and Tony Popovic’s side will be gunning for that honour against a side they routinely experience success against.
Perth have lost just one of their last ten encounters with the Wanderers (2-1 defeat in October 2017), going unbeaten in their last six fixtures (W3, D3).
Glory’s success over the last five rounds of Hyundai A-League action has come down to a combination of resolute defence, while the combination between attack and midfield continues to flourish.
Brisbane’s O’Shea leads the league in successful passes in opposition half (405) but nipping at his heels are three Glory players: Diego Castro (402), Neil Kilkenny (389) and Juande (348).
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115830525001
MATCH PREVIEW: Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory
Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory
Sunday, 19 January 2020
Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta
6:30pm (Local) (6:30pm (AEDT)
