Preview of A-League Round 8 matches (all times AEDT):
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United at AAMI Park 7.40pm
Head to Head: Melbourne Victory 15 Adelaide United 10 drawn 6
Last clash: Round 2 2014-2015 – Adelaide United 1 drew Melbourne Victory 1 at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Melbourne Victory $2.20 Adelaide United $3.10 Draw $3.40
The round’s most mouth-watering clash kicks off the round with Kevin Muscat’s Melbourne aiming to set a club record by avoiding defeat to the high-flying Reds. The Victory have never gone eight games unbeaten in a single season but face a tough test against a Josep Gombau side that love to pass their opponents to death and are also yet to taste defeat. But their record in Melbourne against the Victory isn’t great with just one win in their last 16 visits. Spaniard Gombau has also been heavily linked with Japanese club Yokohama F Marinos and it will be interesting to see if this has an affect on his side.
Key: Besart Berisha spearheads a Victory attack that tops the A-League scoring charts and the Albanian hitman has formed a strong partnership with the evergreen Archie Thompson that has generated eight goals in seven games between them.
Tip: Draw
SATURDAY, Nov 29
Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium 5.00pm
Head to Head: Brisbane Roar 16 Glory 6 drawn 6
Last clash: Round 2 2014-2015 – Glory 3 bt Brisbane Roar 2 at nib Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Brisbane Roar $2.15 Glory $3.25 Draw $3.30
Mike Mulvey’s reward for winning the premiership in April was being shown the door by the Brisbane board after a poor start to the season. Former Dutch international Frans Thijssen, who was a magnificent midfielder during his own playing days in the 1970s, is the new man in charge and sure to maintain the Roar’s free-flowing style. However, he will need to tighten up a defence that has kept just three clean sheets in 20 games. The ladder-leading Glory are enjoying their best start to a season ever and in Irish striker Andy Keogh have a real scoring threat.
Key: This is Perth’s chance to prove that they are the real deal after a decade of mediocrity, and with Keogh, who has five goals to his name this season, they have a player who can take advantage of a suspect Roar defence.
Tip: Brisbane Roar
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC at Pirtek Stadium 7.30pm
Head to Head: Western Sydney 3 Sydney FC 3 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 2 2014-2015 – Sydney FC 3 bt Western Sydney 2 at Allianz Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Western Sydney $2.35 Sydney FC $2.90 Draw $3.30
The Asian champions have got off to a wretched start to the season but would love nothing better than to break their duck on home soil against the bitter rivals. The Sky Blues haven’t won at Pirtek Stadium since 2012 but are in cracking form and full of confidence and head across town unbeaten. Tomi Juric scored a fine goal for the Wanderers in last week’s draw with Newcastle and was only prevented from adding to his tally by the woodwork and good goalkeeping. However, he is looking sharper with each game and will be a constant threat for the visitors.
Key: Under Graham Arnold Sydney look settled and organised for the first time in many years. However, Wanderers marquee man Vitor Saba has shown flashes of inspiration as he finds his feet in the A-League and this is the Brazilian playmaker’s chance to announce himself to the rest of the competition.
Tip: Wanderers
SUNDAY, Nov 30
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City at Westpac Stadium 3.00pm
Head to Head: Phoenix 5 Melbourne City 3 drawn 4
Last clash: Round 23 2013-2014 – Melbourne City 2 drew Phoenix 2 at AAMI Park
Tab Sportsbet: Phoenix $2.20 Melbourne City $2.90 Draw $3.50
Ernie Merrick’s Phoenix have lost three of their last four games and need a win in windy Wellington to get back on track. But they welcome back key attacker Michael McGlinchey, who missed the last two games. City have yet to really fire despite the resources available to them, but creating chances has been easier than converting them with David Villa no longer available. The signings of Aaron Mooy and Erik Paartalu in addition to Damien Duff and Robert Koren has increased expectations on the perennial battlers but they will see this as a game they can win.
Key: Kiwi international McGlinchey is a big boost for the hosts but the visitors will remember fondly their 5-0 win on their last trip to ‘The Cake Tin’.
Tip: Phoenix
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners at Hunter Stadium 5.00pm
Head to Head: Jets 7 Mariners 11 drawn 10
Last clash: Round 1 2014-2015 – Mariners 1 bt Jets 0 at Central Coast Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Jets $2.25 Mariners $3.00 Draw $3.50
The Jets were much-improved in last Saturday’s draw against Western Sydney but are still looking for that elusive first win of the season. Coach Phil Stubbins pinpointed Marcos Flores as the key to his side’s revival after the Argentine’s equaliser against the Wanderers. Flores also has the added incentive of facing the club that showed him the door last year when he was recovering from knee surgery. Mariners coach Phil Moss denies there’s issues in the dressing room despite skipper John Hutchinson storming down the tunnel after being substituted last week. But defeat to their local rivals would only intensify speculation.
Key: David Carney and Flores showed signs of developing a promising partnership for the Jets and the former Socceroos winger has the pace to trouble a shaky Mariners’ defence.
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