For the first time in two years Adelaide will host an A-League final when the Reds take on the Brisbane Roar at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
In an historic moment for the league it will be the first ever finals match to be played at the iconic venue.
It could also host an absolute classic with so many questions about these two teams heading into the fixture.
If the match was decided on ladder position, and season form, then Adelaide would win the contest. Brisbane in 2014-15 have been a shadow of themselves in recent seasons.
We all know though that form means nothing in a finals series and Brisbane have been good at extracting results at the point end of the season.
They have won three out of the last four championships and have only lost once in the finals in the last four seasons.
Obviously, after last year’s win over Western Sydney, they are also the reigning champions and will look to go back-to-back with three straight wins.
For the Roar though the dream was almost over a few weeks ago, as they lost ground to Melbourne City who took sixth in the A-League.
The season was virtually over and all they had left was the Asian Champions League.
That was until the Perth Glory salary cap scandal which saw them eliminated from the finals race and Brisbane get a reprieve.
Now they have nothing to lose and in recent history – in other sports – this has become important in the finals series.
Two years ago, when Carlton in the AFL got a similar scenario, they took it and eliminated a final competitor in Round 1.
The Blues defeated Richmond before being eliminated by Sydney in the second week of the finals.
Brisbane can certainly do that with the squad they have.
10 of the 16 players who played in the grand final are still there and their best player, Thomas Broich, is finding his form again after a long layoff with injury.
It could actually be 12 if Theo and Henrique get back into the team. They have the talent to do the job but the form needs to improve against the bigger teams.
Against the top four – Wellington, Adelaide, Melbourne Victory and Sydney – they have won just three matches and taken 10 points out of a possible 36 against them.
When you take out Adelaide United they have won just four points out of a possible 27.
Brisbane have a fantastic record against the Reds, and continued that this year, with two wins away from home. They haven’t lost to the Reds in Adelaide since 2010 and have won seven out of their last eight matches against the club. That is an incredible record for an away team.
These two teams also have history in the finals with two previous meetings before today. The first, which was for a spot in the grand final in 2008-09, was won by Adelaide courtesy of a Fabian Barbiero wonder strike in the 25th minute.
The second, only two years ago, was won by Brisbane as they upset the Reds at home in the elimination final.
Adelaide’s record in the A-League finals is poor. They have won just two games in 15 matches. This includes two draws, 10 losses, and a penalty shootout win against Newcastle. They deserve to be better than that and will be looking to break that in some way with a win against the Roar.
This match looks to be decided in the midfield with both teams having plenty of flair in the middle.
For Brisbane they have Luke Brattan, Thomas Broich, Steven Lustica, and Matt McKay.
The Reds, in reply, have Marcelo Carrusca, Awer Mabil, Isaias, and Sergio Cirio.
Whichever midfield can dictate the game will be the team that is most likely to win.
The attackers for each team will also be pivotal.
Jean-Carlos Solorzano needs to play well for Brisbane and Pablo Sanchez has a big role to play for Adelaide. With no Bruce Djite for the match, who is out with a groin strain, Adelaide needs to find a suitable replacement who can score.
The Reds could make up to five changes from the team that played Melbourne City last week with Isaias, Carrusca, and Mabil expected to play.
That shifts the match back to Adelaide but how these players survive 90 minutes – or 120 – of football will be fascinating.
Brisbane will be favourites if they drag the match past 90 minutes into extra time or penalties.
An explosive Reds start, and a loud home crowd, will destroy the chances for the Roar.
They need to eliminate the crowd, get them and the players restless, and steal a goal or a win through a penalty shootout.
This match promises to be close and it may take just one goal to get the job done.
Adelaide start as favourites and deserve to be the team to beat.
I predict them to just defeat the Roar but Brisbane can certainly pull the surprise and run away from Adelaide with another win.
PREDICTION – Adelaide 2-1
KEY INFORMATION
Venue – Adelaide Oval
Head to Head – Brisbane 13 Adelaide 11 Draw 8
Head to Head – 2014-15 – Brisbane 2 Adelaide 1
Head to Head Finals matches – Adelaide 1 Brisbane 1 Draw 0
Squads –
ADELAIDE – 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (GK) (c), 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.PABLO SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 12.Mark OCHIENG,14.Cameron WATSON, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 19.Miguel PALANCA, 20.Paul IZZO (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 24.Bruce KAMAU
BRISBANE – 2.Jerome POLENZ, 5.Corey BROWN, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 9.ANDRIJA Kaluderovic, 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 16.Devante CLUT, 17.Matt McKAY (c), 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 36.Fraser CA-LeagueMERS (gk).
Last Meeting – Brisbane 3 Adelaide 2 – 11th April 2015
Betting – Adelaide 1.9 Draw 3.5 Brisbane 3.9
TV – Fox Sports 4 – Live at 7:15, SBS – Delayed at 8:00pm
For Adelaide and Brisbane fans you can buy your tickets to the match at Ticketek.com.au or on the Official App.
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