The opening derby of 2015-16 is almost upon us, as Melbourne Victory play host to rivals Melbourne City on Saturday.
The mouthwatering clash is one of the most immense fixtures of the home-and-away season, and is arguably the greatest derby in the A-League.
Melbourne Victory will be keen to redeem themselves after a disappointing 0-0 outing against Adelaide United in the commencement week of the 11th A-League season.
Kevin Muscat’s side dominated the match, leaving many dumbfounded as to how the champions failed to depart Adelaide with all three points in the bag.
The result was positive for Victory considering the circumstances of Leigh Broxham’s sending off late in the match, a clean sheet and a point is certainly better than nothing.
Melbourne City’s season got off to a rather decent start, they did not collect the maximum points from Allianz Stadium but they held Sydney to a 1-1 draw. It was a positive result considering the number of chances Sydney had to put the game to bed.
New signing and ex-Stoke City shot-stopper Thomas Sorenson emerged as City’s most influential player of the match, ultimately earning his side a point.
John van ‘t Schip and his fresh-faced City outfit have secured some impressive signings with the potential to cause the home side grief.
Head to Head record
There have been 16 encounters between the two Melbourne based sides, Victory with the upper-hand in this department with seven victories to City’s five, while four matches resulted in stalemates. Victory have won three of the last four derbies, finding the net on 11 occasions in the process.
Previous encounter
The most recent clash between these teams was the semi-final in May 2015, and it was the blue side of Melbourne left grinning after Victory defeated their rivals 3-0 to advance to the grand final. Goals from Besart Berisha, Kosta Barbarouses and Archie Thompson were enough in front of 50,000 people at Etihad Stadium.
Key match-up: Besart Berisha versus Patrick Kisnorbo
The midfield duel will be important but given Berisha’s clinical record in Melbourne derbies, he will be the predominant goal threat. The Albanian has scored five goals in four derby appearances. Berisha boasts great finishing ability, demonstrated by his 63 A-League goals over the course of four seasons.
City captain Kisnorbo is one of the more superior defenders in the A-League and will be pivotal if his side are able to keep the Victory hitman at bay. The defender possesses great strength and aerial abilities, which will help his case against a striker of Berisha’s calibre. If the captain delivers a potent defensive display, Berisha may not enjoy this derby as much as others he has experienced.
Berisha will be keen to make amends for the opportunities he wasted in week one against Adelaide.
Projected line-ups
Melbourne Victory- 4-3-3: Vukovic (GK); Georgievski, Deng, Delpierre, Murnane; Valeri, Finkler, Bozanic; Barbarouses, Berisha, Ben Khalfallah.
Melbourne City- 4-3-3: Sorenson (GK); Retre, Chapman, Kisnorbo (C), Clisby; Paartalu, Mooy, Koren; Espindola, Fornaroli, Dekker.
Prediction
The first Melbourne derby of the season is bound to be an intriguing spectacle, both sides will be seeking three points following their first round stalemates and there is no better time to do so than in the derby.
On paper, Melbourne City’s squad appears much stronger than the starting XI that took to the field in the corresponding fixture last season.
The reigning champions will want to prove they are still the best in the competition, starting with a victory against their local rivals.
Melbourne Victory 3-1 Melbourne City
Bradley Jurd
Roar Rookie
The biggest derby in Australian sport? Excuse me; Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC is bigger.
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
This season's Sydney derby is already bigger than the Melbourne derby with only 2K seats left this afternoon and set to sell out 45.5K by tomorrow. I'll be there with my Sky Blue Sydney jersey on, with my mates, some of whom will be wearing the red and black. Will be another great night for Australian football. And a good time to play the Wanderers at home, while they are not at their best.
c
Guest
your boys started it
ac
Guest
I don't appreciate the "football" community taking a snipe at other codes. It's great the A League has marquee games such as this, but please refrain from denigrating other codes.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Says the poster who consistently falls for Fuss's baits.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Carlton haven't played Collingwood in a final since 1988? That's quite a long time. As SEN said the other day, it was their view that the Victory vs Melb City fixture was now the biggest Melbourne derby in any sport. The last time Collingwood played Carlton (in round 19), the AFL made it a Saturday arvo fixture and it was not a big build up to the game at all, attracting only 48,133, which is well down on previous years (for example, in Rd 2 of 2011 they attracted 88,181, and the return match in Rd 17 attracted 85,936). Although one would it would take too much for the fixture to start attracting 80k again.
marron
Roar Guru
I found them last night at some point. I was just curious as to why you wouldn't post the info graphic. I found the correct club figure, which is from the FIFA Big count survey of its member associations in 2006 - 3868. http://fifa.com/media/news/y=2007/m=5/news=fifa-big-count-2006-270-million-people-active-football-529882.html
Mister Football
Roar Guru
In fact, it now appears that picture is not a picture of marn grook, but a picture of woggaballiri. Craig Foster has written extensively about woggaballiri, a traditional indigenous game that might be the true forerunner to soccer. As this wikipedia article says: "In 2010, Football Federation Australia referenced Woggabaliri in its Australian 2022 FIFA World Cup bid citing its similarity to football (soccer) as part of Australia's national heritage. " It looks like the reference to Woggaballiri in our world cup bid hit the mark. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woggabaliri
Mister Football
Roar Guru
He's still a big fan, and is often seen at A-League games in Sydney. In fact, he would be a great acquisition on the coaching staff of any club.
sticks
Roar Rookie
I have no issue posting the VFL report and the FFV annual report both from 2014, but i seriously think something is wrong with you if you cant find them yourself. http://www.aflvic.com.au/record-participation-2014/ http://issuu.com/alendelic/docs/n5202-02-fa_ffv_annual_report_2015_ try page 3
Waz
Guest
duplicate post
marron
Roar Guru
....
marron
Roar Guru
Still waiting. ..
marron
Roar Guru
Thanks for posting the link although it's still weird you won't post the snazzy vic AFL "report". What's wrong with it? For someone who is so intent on correcting misinformation you might understand why i might think it's strange you don't want to post it. You'll have to forgive me as lots of mistruths get posted on here by zealots with no factual basis, let alone any supporting evidence. Anyway I'm looking forward to reading about the 30 derbies in austtalia that are bigger than the Melbourne one.
marron
Roar Guru
No argument... Just like to see the source of info for myself. Something missing from the ABS data are the figures per state for AFL. AFL data would suggest that the same is true of Vic for AFL as NSW for football - over half of the total are from that state. Fotball has its biggest centres there - not just WS either. And that's why the "half the country" argument is still pertinent when looking at participation and population. The states aren't equal. Would love to know the figure of clubs and spread but can't find that.
sticks
Roar Rookie
You may have a hard time discussing all of those 13,868 soccer clubs, but don't fret, fuss will be back soon to lead the charge for the soccer boys, he can name every one of those clubs. And waz will be back to claim that soccer has 15,000 clubs and 3 million participants and is number one in every state and territory in this wide brown land.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Ok great your right and we're wrong. Toddle off now. We want to discuss more factually incorrect nonsense just to annoy you so that you have a reason to come to the football forum. Far out its going to be a long season if it keeps up like this.
sticks
Roar Rookie
@ Bondy, i am bandying things around because posters demanded to see them, in fact i have been the only poster to put up any credible stats, other posters quote wiki, where one poster claims 13,868 soccer clubs in this country, when in the 2014 FFV annual report they only claim 332 soccer clubs in the whole of Victoria. I have provided ABS links and quotes from FFV and also AFL Victoria, all credible sources. I provided those quotes and links because one poster INSISTED that soccer is the number 1 participation sport in every state and territory in this country, perhaps it was him who wrote in the wiki link that there were 13,868 soccer clubs in this country. What's the bet waz will be saying the same thing tomorrow.
sticks
Roar Rookie
@RBB, that is actually quite funny, sounds like a Dockers V St kilda game, only if Ross Lyon was coaching both teams. Sorry if it is all annoying, but sometimes i just like to correct such obvious incorrect statements, most times i don't bother.
Bondy
Guest
Sticks Whatever participation rates you want to bandy around for sports or what sports should or shouldn't be called is always debatable but what isn't debatable though is you quite clearly wont allow other people to enjoy their sport and that's sad or childish .