FTS A-League Round 11 Preview – Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory DERBY EDITION
MATCH PREVIEW
Round 11: Melbourne City vs. Melbourne Victory – Derby Edition
For this preview on From the Stands, we are going to try something a little different by having a supporter of each side as the correspondent for their respective team and get opposing views and predictions ahead of the game from each. Luke is the Melbourne Victory reporter while David is covering his beloved Melbourne City.
The home side, City, is coming off a week of rest after having their fixture against the Western Sydney Wanderers postponed due to the Wanderers exploits in Morocco. In that time, marquee Robert Koren has returned to training and is a possibility to feature in the derby and Australian marquee Josh Kennedy has arrived at the club, but will not play until next year.
Victory is coming off an enthralling encounter against rivals Sydney FC which ended with three goals apiece. Mark Milligan picked up a three game suspension from the Big Blue and will miss the derby, whilst Van’t Schip will be concerned with the recent form of Archie Thompson who scored a hat-trick on the night.
As with recent derbies, anything can happen over the 90 minutes and the first goalscorer rarely decides the tie with goals aplenty predicted by many to entertain the crowd and viewers at home once again. It won’t be hard to hear the fans either, with Victory’s away end sold out, encompassing both ‘South End’ and ‘North Terrace’ active areas, and City’s active area, the ‘Melburnians’, prepared to step up their game to generate an electric atmosphere like nothing else seen in Melbourne.
Head to Head : Played 13 – Melbourne City 4 Draw 4 Melbourne Victory 5.
Last Meeting : 25th of October, 2014, at Etihad Stadium – Melbourne Victory 5 – 2 Melbourne City.
Form Guide : Melbourne City : WDLLW. Melbourne Victory : DWWWD.
Absentee List :
Melbourne City : Jonaton Germano (hamstring – 1-2 weeks), Damien Duff (calf – 4 weeks), Liam Miller (calf – 1 week)
Melbourne Victory : Mark Milligan (suspended – 3 weeks), Matthieu Delpierre (foot – indefinite), Daniel Georgievski (ankle 1-2 weeks)
Melbourne City (probable) : (4-1-4-1)
Velaphi
Hoffman—Kisnorbo—Chapman—Garrucio
Paartalu
Dugandzic—Mooy—Murdocca—Melling
Williams
What are the strengths of the system and what are the identified weaknesses of the opposition?
A win and a week seems to have rejuvenated City and have them primed for the 14th installment of the Melbourne Derby. Defensively the team looks considerably better with the inclusions of Velaphi and Chapman, putting the remainder of the squad on notice letting them know Van’t Schip finally isn’t afraid to make changes.
Going forward City still look fragile with their lack of attacking options and goals. David Williams has been virtually nonexistent thus far and must start showing form, particularly with Josh Kennedy arriving. City will need to make the most of their set pieces, their best avenue to goal. Aaron Mooy must deliver pinpoint crosses over the 90 minutes if City is to pressure the highly fancied Victory team. Victory’s defensive weaknesses stem from the air, and the two City goals at the last derby came through this. Paartalu and Kisnorbo must pressure Nathan Coe and the Victory defense at every opportunity if they are to get anything out of the match.
Melbourne Victory (probable) : (4-2-3-1)
Coe
Geria — Leijer — Ansell — Galloway
Broxham (C) — Valeri
Barbarouses — Ben Khalfallah — Thompson
Berisha
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the system against their opposition?
The Victory have struggled with consistency in team selections throughout the season, with injuries, suspensions and international call-ups forcing Kevin Muscat into changes. With Finkler recovering from a groin injury, it is unlikely that he will make starting XI despite being named in the match day squad, while Broxham will step into midfield to replace the suspended Mark Milligan, with Nick Ansell partnering Adrian Leijer in central defence and Galloway most likely returning for fellow youngster Dylan Murnane.
Victory will look to utilise their pace out wide and overload the susceptible City full backs and create 2v1 situations where a dangerous final ball can be delivered. Berisha has been unusually quiet recently but is certainly the man for a big occasion so expect him to drop deeper to try to influence the game by connecting with the midfield.
The loss of Milligan’s long balls out of defence may see the Victory aim to play a shorter passing game, aiming to pull defenders out of position. The movement of Khalfallah and Barbarouses are essential to create space for Thompson and Berisha to be fed through balls that they put into the back of the net so often.
Eyes on…. Tando Velaphi
Having started Melbourne City’s last fixture against Brisbane Roar, Velaphi will be hoping to retain his starting position after keeping a rare clean sheet in the home fixture against last season’s champions. Facing his old team, Velaphi can expect to see a lot of action in goal against the Victory who have scored five more goals this season (24) than the next highest scoring team.
Five was indeed the number that Redmayne let into his net the last time the two sides met and, if Velaphi is to have anything less than a good performance on the night he can expect to concede just as many should the Victory offence function as it has all season, on the night. The 27 year old will want to make a lasting impression on the fixture to try to solidify a regular place in goals if he gets the nod, after sitting on the bench at both Melbourne clubs since his move from Perth in 2011.
David’s Prediction : Melbourne City 2 – 2 Melbourne Victory
Luke’s Prediction : Melbourne City 1 – 3 Melbourne Victory
FTSAUS FACTS
Melbourne City have an A-League winning percentage of 27% since their inception, yet their win percentage against the Victory at Aami Park is 43%, showing just how well they do in these fixtures at their home ground.
Melbourne City’s seven highest attended matches have all been derbies from years gone past, with this weekend’s sellout expecting to break the record for the largest attendance at a City home match.
Written by Luke Hall – @hally_101 and David Hards – @hardsy05
