This match on paper looks to be a forgone conclusion but Melbourne Heart‘s resurgence in recent weeks means Brisbane Roar will need to be on their game. Join us for live scores and commentary on Sunday from 5pm AEDT.
Brisbane sat seven points clear on top of the A-League ladder at the beginning of the round but were brought down to earth in last week’s 1-0 loss at home to the Newcastle Jets.
The Jets enthusiasm and determination in defence unsettled the Roar and they will face a similar task away to the much improved Heart outfit this weekend.
Thomas Broich was quiet last week as the Jets looked to double team him and Brisbane fans will be hoping the German playmaker can have more of an influence.
The Heart on the other hand are flying at the moment after their 5-0 demolition of Wellington Phoenix and have gone undefeated in their past five matches including three consecutive wins.
Energetic forward David Williams has been in outstanding form for the Heart which included a spectacular hat-trick against the Nix in Wellington and will look to add to his nine goals for the season against the Roar.
Dutchman Orlando Engelaar has added much needed experience and composure in the middle of the park for the Heart and he will need to dictate terms if the Heart are to topple the ladder leaders.
Besart Berisha cut a frustrated figure up front for Brisbane last week with the talismatic striker forced to drop deep to get the ball as the Jets pressed high up the pitch.
The Albanian is still the most lethal striker in the A-League and it is not too often he goes two weeks without a goal, so Melbourne Heart will need to be vigilant this weekend.
Luke Brattan has really come into his own this season and he has helped fill the void left by the injury sustained by Liam Miller in midfield.
The possible return of Matt McKay in Brisbane’s engine room would be a big boost for the visitors with his composure and passing range helping to take the pressure off Thomas Broich.
Looking from afar, Brisbane look to have too much to play for in this one as they try to secure the Premiers Plate but Melbourne still have an outside chance of making the finals.
Both sides have plenty of attacking weapons in the final third and it wouldn’t surprise if there are several goals in this match but Brisbane’s quality in the back four may just get them over the line.
Prediction: Brisbane 2 Heart 1
Ian
Guest
Yes Perth aren't travelling too well so as you say we can play ourselves into form. Yes there seems to be a high turnover of coaches - last year there was 5 from memory and this year there has been at least the same. i wonder if other leagues have 50% of their coaches departing each season. SFC are still 4th and look at the fanfare there.
clayts
Guest
Nice generalisation, Fuss. I thought someone as grammatically fastidious as you wouldn't stoop to such low levels. Rellum was pretty much spot on in the way that your post was interpreted, considering where you actually posted it (MH v BRI review page). Devil is in the detail, indeed
SVB
Guest
You have Perth at home next week. That's a good game to play you into some form and an easy 3 points. I find in this league that their is a lot of irrational overreaction a lot of the time. That is why Popovic is the longest club coach in the league right now. It seems that if you aren't coming first then the world is coming to an end and you have to get rid of the coach/players because they haven't got the right philosophy/tactics etc. I think Gombau found that out the hard way.
Ian
Guest
I'm not saying Brisbane's season is over. I think we had a bad game and was very disappointed overall. But i'd prefer it to happen in round 20/21 then round 26/27.
SVB
Guest
I love all these Brisbane Roar supporters acting as if the season is over. Four points ahead on the ladder. Played the best football of the season so far. Don't have ACL fixtures to contend with. Excellent squad. One minute complaining that no one recognises their squad depth. Then the next minute talking about how their players are rubbish and have no hope after a few bad performances. Sheesh. You lot could challenge Sydney FC supporters when it comes to narcicisstic behaviour. Relax. Brisbane will win the premiership and win it easy. Mulvey will get the team fired up again. Bad form won't last for a team like Brisbane.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
No, I can't see that. I said: "By contrast, other teams are getting a bit of luck & accumulating points." You will note the use of the plural form of the noun "team". When a plural form is used, it means "more than 1". Hence, even I were thinking about Heart, I could not be only referring to Heart. The devil is in the detail. I thought MHT fans would be proud & happy, given events of recent weeks...but, it seems they're still a paranoid bunch, incapable of being positive about their team.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Really, you can't see making a comment on Brisbane then a comment on other teams getting lucky in a article about Brisbane and Heart doesn't come across as a comment on the Heart. You can't see that?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Fantastic week coming up for AUS football fans. And, it's not really a "day off" on Monday. At 11 a.m., the FFA will be launching the FFA Cup - a competition that will embrace every registered men's senior football club across Australia. The announcement will be streamed live via the FFA's website. Slowly, we are ticking all the boxes - no other sport in AUS can offer the depth & breadth of competition that football offers for males & females, every age group can be involved: school, suburban, State, national, international club, international country, indoor, outdoor, beach.
clayts
Guest
Agree. MM's set up did nothing to help Roar. He was outcoached easily by JvS, and the latter didn't really need to change anything all day to counter Roar as well. Franjic was really ordinary, Stef is still passed it, I have no idea why Berisha is intent on trying to play in behind the striker (which is meant to be him) and Broich and Brattan seem short of a gallop. I think MM should rest Broich, Brattan and turf Berisha. We have Solorzano ready and waiting so why is he on the bench and giving up his spot to a turncoat? I think by making these changes, it should help give the side back a spark. Let's not forget that Brisbane are not in fact playng "horrible football" (that's Perth), they are just lacking a spark. As soon as they start zipping it around again they won't lose like usual. MM just has to make some tough decisions. I have faith
clayts
Guest
I find it hilarious that Sydney were 3rd after their win the other night, and the fans still want the manager and the board all sacked. Tough crowd. If Heart were like that, AAMI would just be reduced to rubble and ash.
clayts
Guest
First team Heart beat outside VIC in almost their entire existence? You guessed it, Perf Glory, coached by Kenny Lowe
Punter
Guest
You don't think SFC are playing well, well I'm a SFC fan & I can assure you they are playing terrible, they do not inspire me whatsoever, if the board had any football sense, which they don't & that is a major part of the problem, they will not be fooled by the 4th position on the ladder. SFC has played poor football for a few years now, but this year we assembled a fairly decent team on paper, but we are slow in all aspects on our game, we do have a little bit of fight which has helped us win games, but our football has been terrible. It is meant Frankie out if we miss the finals, I would hate to say this, I would rather miss the finals.
Da`
Roar Rookie
+1. Lol. And just earlier this week I had to write an article saying it wasn't worse.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Wow - you Heart supporters are pathetic with your paranoia! Who said I was talking about Melb Heart? I was actually thinking about MVFC & SydFC when I wrote those comments. I don't think MVFC is playing as well now, as we were earlier this season. Early this season, MVFC played some of the bst football I've seen any MVFC team play, but we didn't win any of these matches: ADL (drew 2-2), CCM (drew 0-0), NUJ (lost 1-2), WSW (lost 0-1) Yet, in the past 6 weeks, we've now won 3 HAL & 1 ACL without playing as well as earlier this season: WSW, CCM, ADL & Muangthong Utd. I don't think SydFC is playing well, yet SydFC has won as many games as WSW. Only BRI has won more games than SydFC.
Rellum
Roar Guru
How many weeks in a row have we(Heart) been lucky now?
AZ_RBB
Guest
One word. Bliss.
Roarsome
Guest
In other news, enjoy the 'day off' tomorrow. Starting Tuesday we've got 6 days of football involving A-League teams including the Melbourne derby and ACL involvement. Adelaide v Wellington should be a cracker too! Can't wait!
Roarsome
Guest
I actually enjoyed watching Solo up front with Bes drifting in behind him a few weeks ago, that created an uncertainty in attack which was hard to defend against. It's not panic stations yet, we've got most of the remaining games at Suncorp. Looking forward to Perth on Friday.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Still pretty sure Brisbane will take the premiership. But the battle for the championship is very very open. Last week's duds are so often becoming this week's heroes. People who are saying this season is a big drop from last season have got to be kidding themselves. This is ten times more compelling than last season.
The Bear
Guest
If Perth stifle Roar on Friday night I think on recent form (since New Year) Brisbane should take that particular mantle, Matthew.