Sunday’s first A-League Round 18 match is between Melbourne Heart and Perth Glory. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 3.00pm AEDT with the game to be played at Lavington Sports Ground. The home team Melbourne Heart are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Heart and Perth Glory.
Round: Round 18, Sunday February 9 at 3.00pm AEDT.
Stadium: Lavington Sports Ground
Head to head: Played: 12, Wins: Heart 3, Glory 6, Draws: 3
Previous encounter: Glory 3-0 Heart, Friday January 10 2014
Melbourne Heart $1.95 vs Perth Glory $3.70 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Melbourne Heart $2.02 vs Perth Glory $3.45 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison:
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| Melbourne Heart | 1.95 | 2.07 | 2.02 | 2.07 | 1.95 | 2.00 |
| Draw | 3.60 | 3.65 | 3.35 | 3.65 | 3.60 | 3.40 |
| Perth Glory | 3.70 | 3.25 | 3.45 | 3.25 | 3.70 | 3.40 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Teams:
Melbourne Heart FC Squad:
1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3.Robbie WIELAERT, 6.Patrick GERHARDT, 7.Iain RAMSAY, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 10.Harry KEWELL (C), 11.Michael MIFSUD, 13.Jonatan GERMANO, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16.Aziz BEHICH, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 19.Benjamin GARUCCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Nick KALMAR, 23.Mate DUGANDZIC, 24.Patrick KISNORBO
**one to be omitted**
Ins: 21.Stefan MAUK (promoted), 11.Michael MIFSUD (promoted)
Outs: 4.Orlando ENGELAAR (suspension – one week)
Unavailable: Nil
Perth Glory Squad:
1.Daniel VUKOVIC (GK), 2.Jack CLISBY, 5. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 7. Jacob BURNS, 8. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Jamie MACLAREN, 14.Steven McGARRY, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES, 17. Chris HAROLD, 18. Jack DUNCAN, 19. Josh RISDON, 23.Michael THWAITE, 25. Riley WOODCOCK, 28. Darvydas SERNAS, 36. William GALLAS
Ins: 2.Jack CLISBY, 5. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 28. Darvydas SERNAS
Outs: 4. Ryan EDWARDS, 11. Adrian ZAHRA, 20. Danny DE SILVA
Unavailable: Travis DODD (knee – indefinite), Scott JAMIESON (achilles – indefinite)
Preview:
Form:
Past five matches:
Wanderers: WDWLD
Roar: DLDWW
The Game:
Believe it or not, both teams go into this game in relatively good form. Yes, even Melbourne Heart.
There haven’t been too many times in the last 12 months when you’ve been able to say that about the team in red and white.
John van ‘t Schip’s side have only lost once in their last five matches, and that defeat came away to this week’s opponents, the Glory.
Other than that they have managed credible draws away to Central Coast and Adelaide, while beating the Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC at their AAMI Park home.
Perth meanwhile still struggle on the road, having lost 3-1 at Western Sydney late last month, but they did notch an away win over the Jets on January 4, and have also taken a point off league leaders Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory at nib Stadium.
There’s plenty of room for improvement from Kenny Lowe’s side, and notching another win over the Heart on what is effectively neutral territory in Albury is well within their capabilities.
The big issue:
Heart – The wins have to keep coming if Heart are to achieve the (almost) impossible and earn a finals berth.
Still rooted to the foot of the table, Van ‘t Schip’s team are eight points behind Newcastle and nine off Adelaide and Perth, who sit level on 21 points in sixth and seventh spot respectively.
After the ‘home’ game against Glory, Heart must travel to take on a resurgent Wellington Phoenix, before games against league leaders Brisbane Roar and arch-rivals Melbourne Victory.
A clash with poor travellers Perth in regional New South Wales is by far the most winnable fixture of that tough run.
Glory – Just as the Heart may sniff a good opportunity to beat Perth, the Glory themselves must seize this chance to overcome their away day blues.
Lowe’s side have only that one win over the Jets to show for their efforts on the road this season, and it doesn’t get any easier in the weeks ahead, with away matches against Sydney FC, Brisbane Roar, Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney to follow during February and March.
If they can come away from Albury with all three points, at least that will give them a measure of confidence going into the difficult encounters that await.
The game breaker:
Jonatan Germano – The fit-again Argentine midfielder started his first match this season at home to Sydney FC last Friday and produced an excellent performance, highlighting how much Heart have missed his combination of skill and steel.
With Orlando Engelaar suspended for the match against Perth, it will fall to Germano and Massimo Murdocca to try and win the midfield battle.
Source: www. footballaustralia.com.au
