Friday’s only A-League Round 26 match is between Adelaide United and Melbourne Heart. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 7.30pm AEDT. with the game to be played at Coopers Stadium. The home team Adelaide United are the favourites for the match. View our live scores and teams for the game between Adelaide United and Melbourne Heart.

Round: Round 26, Friday April 5 at 7.30pm AEDT.
Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Head to head: Played: 11, Wins: Adelaide 5, Heart 2, Draws: 4
Previous encounter: Adelaide 2-2 Heart, January 25, 2015

Odds Comparison:

Adelaide United	1.67	1.70	1.72	1.70	1.67	1.67
Draw	3.80	3.75	3.65	3.75	3.80	3.75
Melbourne Heart	5.00	4.75	4.45	4.75	5.00	4.50

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

This match takes place at 7.30pm, Friday night at Coopers Stadium.  Adelaide United are currently sitting in 4th ladder position, and will be expected to take the points here against a struggling Heart team in 9th place.  The Reds are in real contention for a top two finish after Central Coast defeated Western Sydney and Melbourne Victory drew at home to Sydney FC last round, and they will want to make this one count.

In contrast, the Melbourne Heart have nothing real to play for, with no chance of making the finals and so little time left in the season.  While wanting to avoid the wooden spoon will be a big incentive for the Melbourne side, Adelaide look too strong and have too much to play for at this time of the year.  Bruce Djite will play an important role for Adelaide, but he needs to play better than he did last week against Wellington for Adelaide to truly shine.

Teams:

Adelaide United squad:
1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.JERONIMO, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.Cameron WATSON, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Michael ZULLO, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 25.Ryan KITTO, 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 7.JERONIMO (returns from injury), 9.Sergio CIRIO (returns from injury)
Outs: nil
Unavailable: 4.Jon McKAIN (quad 1 week), 6.CASSIO (hamstring tendon – indefinite)

Melbourne Heart FC squad:
1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3.Robbie WIELAERT (C), 4.Orlando ENGELAAR, 6.Patrick GERHARDT, 7.Iain RAMSAY, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 13.Jonatan GERMANO, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 19.Benjamin GARUCCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Nicholas KALMAR, 23.Mate DUGANDZIC, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 28. Paulo RETRE
**One to be omitted**
Ins: 13.Jonatan GERMANO (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 10.Harry KEWELL (abdominal strain – one week)

News:

Josep Gombau has scoffed at reports linking him with the coaching job at Melbourne Heart and is adamant his future lies with the Reds in Adelaide.

Reports emerged this week that Heart’s Manchester City contingent had enquired about the possibility of luring the Spanish coach to Melbourne for next season.

Gombau is contracted to the Reds for next season while the Heart have also just re-signed coach John van ‘t Schip to a new three-year deal.

The speculation is sure to add some spice to Friday night’s clash between the two clubs at Coopers Stadium but Gombau insists he’s happy in Adelaide.

“For me everything here in Adelaide is very good. I don’t have reason to speak to any other club,” Gombau said via an Adelaide United statement on Thursday.

“Any other club has not approached me. Melbourne Heart has appointed John van ‘t Schip for three more years and he deserves it because he is doing a very good job and they are playing good football.

“For me it is a little disrespectful to John to say that his club approached this coach or another coach.”

After a slow start to his tenure at the club, Gombau has turned the Reds into one of the most exciting sides in the Hyundai A-League and a genuine contender for the title.

The club have said they will review the season before deciding on any potential contract extensions for Gombau but the Spaniard has indicated he is keen to extend his stay.

“The club is speaking with me about an extension and I am sure we will come to an agreement to stay here in Adelaide for a longer time,” he said.

“But now is the time to concentrate on the team. We have two very important games still to play and then we hope also some games in the finals to finish as high on the table as possible.

“The players have been amazing. They have been working so hard all year from the beginning and now they can see the results are coming because of their efforts.

“Also the other coaches and staff everybody in the football department is doing their jobs well to help the team.”

Adelaide will book their finals spot with a win over Heart on Friday night before they finish the regular season with a trip to Hunter Stadium to face Newcastle Jets seven days later.

Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au