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Melbourne City host Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park in a must-see match that could end the game of ‘ladder leapfrog’ between these two that started in Round 9. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
If the heat was on in these teams’ battle for the sixth and last spot in the A-League finals, then this clash is the boiling point.
In their previous match-up, in early December (Round 9), Melbourne City prevailed 1-0 thanks to an Aaron Mooy penalty. Since then, both sides have remained side-by-side on the ladder in sixth and seventh spot, often trading places round by round.
A win for City could spell the end of Brisbane’s title defence, with an eight-point gap seemingly too large for the Roar to haul back in five games.
Meanwhile, a win for Brisbane would tighten up the race for sixth spot, leaving them two points behind City with a game in hand. But with their heavy schedule and the unavailability of many key players, a victory for Frans Thijssen’s men seems unlikely.
The champions remain without Thomas Broich, Jade North, Henrique and Michael Theo through injury, while Matt McKay, Luke DeVere, James Donachie and Corey Brown are away on international duty.
This lack of quality and squad depth was drastically exposed on Wednesday night when Brisbane lost 4-1 at home to bottom side Western Sydney Wanderers.
With four of their starting defenders missing, the Roar were forced into pairing defensive midfielder Luke Brattan with left-sided defender Shane Stefanutto as makeshift centre-backs. The two struggled to adapt to their new positions as the Wanderers fired in four goals.
Brisbane will somehow have to shore up a leaky defence that has conceded 14 goals in four games if they are to have any chance of winning tonight.
Melbourne City will be keen to exploit this weak defence, especially with attacking trio Josh Kennedy, Harry Novillo and David Williams returning to their squad.
Star playmaker Aaron Mooy will be unavailable for City due to his call up to the Socceroos but City are not short on options to fill his place. Robert Koren and James Brown are both capable in central playmaking positions to partner Erik Paartalu in the middle of the park.
Brown in particular will be hoping that his match-winning goal against Sydney FC last Friday earns him a fifth start for the season.
A City win will complete a hat-trick of victories for John van’t Schip’s side over Brisbane this season, while the Roar will be out to prevent extending their losing streak to four.
Who would have thought at the start of this season that at this stage we would be seeing reigning champions Brisbane Roar and title-favourites Melbourne City desperately battling each other for the sixth spot in the finals?
It should be an exciting affair nonetheless.
Prediction
Melbourne City 3 Brisbane Roar 1
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).