FTS A-League Preview Round 24: Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne City
The A-League’s Easter long-weekend extravaganza continues this Friday as the Western Sydney Wanderers welcome an in-form Melbourne City to Pirtek Stadium. In a week where off-field dramas have attempted to put the integrity of the competition into question, many will welcome the return of on-field action at the forefront of the domestic football conscience.
Western Sydney enters this home fixture coming off the back of a 3-2 defeat away to the Perth Glory last weekend. In truth, the Asian champions had numerous chances to achieve some sort of result from the WA side but in the end were made to suffer defeat courtesy of a beauty from Josh Risdon. Despite the squad continuing to deliver impressive performances despite incredible match fatigue, the loss now leaves Tony Popovic’s side second from bottom with – realistically – only pride to play for.
Meanwhile, Melbourne City are approaching the competition’s final weeks with serious intentions. The city side have won their last three consecutive matches without conceding a single goal and now seem primed to capture the final playoff berth. John van’t Schip has answered his critics of months past with some much-needed results and will hope to get more from Friday’s trip to “Wanderland” than his last attempt.
A victory for the visitors will further solidify their place within the top six and continue their recent run of form. While a win for Western Sydney will provide the side with a significant confidence boost ahead of their Asian Champions League crunch-clash with FC Seoul on Tuesday. If the last result between these two sides is anything to go by, this Good Friday fixture is set to be another eventful end-to-end quick-tempo contest.
Head-to-Head:
Played: 8. Western Sydney Wanderers: 6. Melbourne City: 1.
Last Meeting: 11/3/2015 at Pirtek Stadium. Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 Melbourne City
Form Guide:
Western Sydney Wanderers: WLLWL Melbourne City: LLWWW
Absentee List:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Iacopo La Rocca (not selected), Steve Kuzmanovski (not selected), Shannon Cole (collarbone), Brendan Hamill (thigh), Antony Golec (groin – 1 week), Brendon Santalab (shoulder), Matthew Spiranovic (hamstring), Nick Ward (knee – indefinite), Golgol Mebrahtu (knee – indefinite)
Melbourne City: James Brown (foot – 6 weeks), Robbie Wielaert (ankle – 2 weeks), Connor Chapman (suspended – 1 match), Damien Duff (ankle/calf – indefinite), Ben Garuccio (ankle – 7 weeks), Jacob Melling (knee – 1 week)
Possible XI:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Covic; Gallaway; Topor-Stanley; Madaschi; Tanaka; Poljak; Kalmar; Takahagi; Castelen; Rukavytsya; Bulut
Melbourne City: Velaphi; Clisby; Kisnorbo; Jaliens; Retre; Paartalu; Germano; Koren; Dugandzic; Novillo; Kennedy
Prediction: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Melbourne City
FTSAUS Facts:
Kerem Bulut has scored five goals in his last five A-League games for the Western Sydney Wanderers. With a hunger for goal and a raw passion for the game, expect the controversial forward to add to this statistic come Friday night.
Melbourne City have had a total of 19 different goal scorers this season. With threats looming all over the park, do not rule out the away side impacting the scoreline’s proceedings.
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