FTS A-League Preview Round 21: Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory
Friday night A-League action returns to “Wanderland” for a huge match-up between the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Melbourne Victory. The competition’s newest club prepare to do battle again barely two days after defeating Melbourne City and will need to be a lot better if they are to get any kind of result against a Victory outfit determined to take out the title this season.
Western Sydney grace the matchday experience for the third time in six days as Victory travel to Pirtek Stadium in what is sure to be another entertaining football fixture. Tony Popovic’s team are coming off the back of a dramatic 3-2 victory over a City side that produced an impressive performance for much of the 90 minutes. However, the ramifications of this midweek encounter now bode some concerning scenarios for the Wanderers coaching staff as many first team regulars are now succumbing to injury and fatigue.
Meanwhile Kevin Muscat’s men make the journey to Parramatta knowing a win will send them top of the competition. The navy blue-and-whites are coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with the Glory last weekend and were unlucky to not have claimed all three points. For an added confidence booster to the occasion, the Victory have not lost against the Wanderers in the last two meetings this season.
It’s always a fiery and passionate contest when these two proud clubs collide, but after contrasting campaigns, the incentives to win rest on similar ends of the spectrum. Irrespective of the injury concerns and the formbook, this match is sure to be a highly competitive and entertaining match of football. The red-and-blacks would welcome a second win on the trot and enjoy the newfound confidence as season 10 heads to a close. But with realistic reasoning it would be hard to put this one past the two-time champions. At the moment Melbourne are geared for finals football and they should look to demonstrate just how come kick-off Friday night at 7:30pm (AEDT).
Head-to-Head:
Played: 8. Western Sydney Wanderers: 3. Melbourne Victory: 4.
Last Meeting: 6/1/2015 at Parramatta Stadium. Western Sydney Wanderers 1-2 Melbourne Victory.
Form Guide:
Western Sydney Wanderers: DLLLW Melbourne Victory: DWDLD
Absentee List:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Yusuke Tanaka (not selected), Mateo Poljak (calf), Yojiro Takahagi (not selected), Nikita Rukavytsya (not selected), Jonathan Aspropotimitis (not selected), Golgol Mebrahtu (knee – indefinite), Brendan Hamill (thigh), Brendon Santalab (shoulder), Shannon Cole (collarbone), Mark Bridge (injured)
Melbourne Victory: Jason Geria (injured), Kosta Barbarouses (injured)
Possible XI:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Covic; Gallaway; Topor-Stanley; Spiranovic; Alessi; La Rocca; Fofanah; Perkatis; Haliti; Castelen; Bulut
Melbourne Victory: Coe; Georgievski; Ansell; Delpierre; Galloway; Finkler; Milligan; Valeri; Ben Khalfallah; Thompson; Berisha
Prediction: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-2 Melbourne Victory
FTSAUS Facts:
Wednesday’s home win over Melbourne City was the Wanderers’ first league win at home for some 320 days. Can the red-and-blacks do the double over the Melbourne clubs come Friday night?
The Victory are unbeaten against the Wanderers in their last four league outings. Will this figure rise to five following full-time at Parramatta?
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