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The third and final Melbourne derby of the regular season kicks off tonight when second-placed Melbourne Victory host Melbourne Heart at Etihad Stadium. We’ll have live commentary from 7.45pm AEDT.
No Melbourne football fan will forget the incredible finish to the most recent Melbourne derby – a 2-1 Victory win in arguably one of the best games of football the A-League has seen in its eight-year history.
Melbourne Victory will be looking to become the first side to win back-to-back derby matches, while the Heart will go into the game knowing that a win will ensure them a top six spot for another week.
With the Victory surging and the Heart well in with a chance at a finals berth, expectations are high as football tonight takes centre stage in Melbourne’s crowded sporting landscape.
John Aloisi will be well aware that all teams below his Heart side will be just as confident of a late surge for the finals.
With last-placed Wellington only four points behind Heart, Aloisi’s side must start stringing together some good results if they want to be involved beyond the regular season.
Although Heart’s recent performances have been well short of the Victory’s formidable form, Aloisi’s men have always lifted for the derby and that is unlikely to change tonight.
Ange Postecoglou’s Victory have lost in Melbourne only once this season- in round one against the Heart.
As in derbies seven and eight earlier this campaign, the Heart’s game plan will revolve around pressuring and closing down the Victory from the outset.
The continual harassment of Victory players on the ball by the likes of David Williams and Josip Tadic will be key.
While this pressing game was highly effective in nullifying Victory’s attack early on in derby eight, Heart’s stumbling point was their inability to capitalise on their first half dominance.
If Heart can make another good start tonight, their ability to execute their early chances may prove decisive.
Allowing Victory to work their way back into the game, as they did last time, could prove fatal to Heart’s chances – Ange Postecoglou’s side have not lost a game in which they have scored first this season.
Meanwhile, the blue half of Melbourne is in raptures following a convincing Big Blue win last week, which propelled them to second place.
Victory’s attack is arguably the best in the league, with youngster Marco Rojas in the form of his life.
Marcos Flores, Archie Thompson, Mark Milligan and Billy Celeski are all starting to gel and sleek passing sequences are starting to become a hallmark of Ange Postecoglou’s time in Melbourne.
While the Victory defence has blundered at times this season, recent games have seen improved performances from the backline.
Adama Traore at left back has been a stand-out this season. While generally reliable, the occasional costly mistake means defence is where Victory are most vulnerable.
As with last time, Melbourne Victory will go into tonight’s match as firm favourites on the back of their recent form.
But Heart as always will be up for it and will be looking to throw Victory off guard early on.
Both sides will look to play a passing game, and with some of the league’s best attacking players on display this match looks set to be a fabulous footballing contest.
With the finals looming and a crowd upwards of 40,000 expected, tonight’s game will no doubt be another thrilling affair. Join us from 7.45pm AEDT to keep up with the action.
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