Opinion
It’s what the fans have wanted for a long time: it’s the top of the table derby! Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC are the only two teams to have picked up maximum points from both matches so far in this A-League campaign.
Western Sydney Wanderers started off their campaign at Bankwest Stadium by beating last year’s wooden spooners Central Coast Mariners 2-1, courtesy to a brace from new captain Mitchell Duke.
They continued that unbeaten streak away against Melbourne Victory, also winning 2-1. This came from an absolute screamer from Keanu Baccus, before Alex Meier contributed his first goal in the A-League with a ludicrous lob after a mistake from Storm Roux.
Sydney FC came up against Adelaide United in their first game, and an action-packed three goals to two sealed the win.
Adam Le Fondre scored a penalty before using his poaching instincts to grab a second goal. In the second half, Ryan McGowan scored a thumping header to take three points, after two quickfire goals from Adelaide United on either side of half time.
Western Sydney Wanderers played with two different squads with different positions in the first and second games but will most likely stick with the 4-3-3 formations that they excelled in against Melbourne Victory. This was applied after losing Tarek Elrich to injury.
Against the Central Coast Mariners, Markus Babbel applied a three at the back with Tass Mourdoukoutas in the centre of Matthew Jurman and Dylan McGowan. Daniel Georgievski and Tarek Elrich played as wing-backs, but Elrich was subbed off due to injury, being replaced early on by Daniel Wilmering.
The same trio of midfield played both games, which consisted of Pirmin Schwegler, Keanu Baccus and Nick Sullivan, and captain Mitch Duke was accompanied upfront by Alex Meier.
That probably won’t be the approach in this game, as they didn’t play well and were struggling with their combinations, and their defence was consistently split apart by the Mariners.
Mohamed Adam excelled in this formation, and will most likely start in the derby.
Western Sydney Wanderers predicted XI
Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Daniel Lopar
LB: Daniel Wilmering
CB: Matthew Jurman
CB: Dylan McGowan
RB: Daniel Georgievski
CM: Nick Sullivan
CDM: Pirmin Schwegler
CM: Keanu Baccus
LW: Mitchell Duke
ST: Alex Meier
RW: Mohamed Adam
Sydney FC is unlikely to make a change from the squad that faced Wellington Phoenix, except for that Joel King could come in for Paulo Retre, who didn’t look very comfortable at left-back.
Michael Zullo would start if he was ready, but even if he is back from his hamstring injury, he probably wouldn’t be ready anyway, he hasn’t played a single minute of the A-League this season.
Other than this, I can’t see Steve Corica changing any player from the starting eleven.
Brandon O’Neill will be looking to continue his form in the midfield and Kosta Barbarouses will be looking to score his first competitive goal in sky blue.
Sydney FC predicted XI
Formation: 4-2-2-2
GK: Andrew Redmayne
LB: Joel King
CB: Alex Wilkinson
CB: Ryan McGowan
RB: Rhyan Grant
CDM: Brandon O’Neil
CDM: Luke Brattan
CAM: Milos Ninkovic
CAM: Alex Baumjohann
ST: Adam Le Fondre
ST: Kosta Barbarouses
Prediction
This is looking to be the most competitive derby in recent years, with both teams sitting on the same amount of points at the top of the table.
I predict that it will most likely be a draw, but due to both attacks pedigrees, I think it will be a 2-2 draw. That is my opinion, but what is your prediction?
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Phillip Cancar’s rather comical and momentarily delayed dive in the 36th minute of Newcastle Jets 3-1 win over Sydney FC on Sunday was a…
Sydney moved into fourth with their point but Glory's finals hopes are now officially extinguished.
