A-League
Melbourne Victory Braces for High-Stakes
Melbourne Victory is gearing up for an intense Big Blue match-up against Sydney FC, coming off a thrilling Christmas Derby one-all draw with Melbourne City. The team is set to travel to Sydney for a doubleheader on Saturday, and they are determined to build on their recent successes in this historic rivalry.
Recent Success in Big Blue Rivalry
Victory has enjoyed significant success in recent Big Blue encounters, winning two and drawing one of their three matches against Sydney FC last season. This positive track record is a testament to the team’s resilience and tactical prowess under the guidance of Head Coach Arthur Diles.
Key Players and Tactical Insights
Melbourne Victory:
An unchanged Victory squad is taking positive momentum from their strong performance in the Christmas Derby. Wingers Reno Piscopo and Daniel Arzani have been instrumental in creating scoring opportunities, while Zinedine Machach remains a key player to watch, having scored in all three fixtures against Sydney FC last season.
Ryan Teague and Jordi Valadon will aim to continue their excellent midfield partnership, leveraging their technical skills to navigate Sydney FC’s press. Their support will be crucial for Victory’s defensive line, which has conceded the fewest goals in the league so far this season.
Sydney FC:
Sydney FC avoided a third-straight loss in the Isuzu UTE A-League thanks to the heroics of Douglas Costa, who helped secure a 3-3 draw against Adelaide United. Despite their attacking prowess, the team has struggled defensively, conceding 17 goals in their eight matches so far. This vulnerability could be a key factor in Saturday’s match.
Head Coach Ufuk Talay’s side boasts a wealth of attacking talent, including Joe Lolley, Patryk Klimala, Anas Ouahim, Jaiden Kucharski, Max Burgess, Patrick Wood, and Douglas Costa. However, their high-pressing style has left them susceptible to counter-attacks, an area Victory will look to exploit.
Squad Announcement: Round Ten – Melbourne Victory FC
- 2. Jason GERIA
- 3. Adama TRAORE
- 5. Brendan HAMILL
- 6. Ryan TEAGUE
- 7. Daniel ARZANI
- 8. Zinedine MACHACH
- 9. Nikolaos VERGOS
- 10. Bruno FORNAROLI
- 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES
- 14. Jordi VALADON
- 16. Joshua INSERRA (promoted)
- 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY
- 18. Fabian MONGE
- 19. Jing REEC (promoted)
- 21. Roderick MIRANDA
- 22. Joshua RAWLINS
- 25. Jack DUNCAN
- 27. Reno PISCOPO
- 28. Kasey BOS
- 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
Unavailable: None
Match Details
- Fixture: Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory
- Date: Saturday, 28 December
- Kick-off: 7:35 PM
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Broadcast: Paramount+ How To Watch
