The first game on Friday for A-League Round 23 is between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 7.30pm (AEDT) with the game to be played at Allianz Stadium. The favourite for the match is away team Brisbane Roar. View our live scores and teams for the game between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar.

Round: Round 23, Friday, March 14 at 7.30pm (AEDT)
Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Head to head: Played: 28 – Sydney 7, Roar 13, Drawn 8
Previous encounter: Sydney 2-5 Roar, December 26, 2013

[iframe_loader width=”690″ height=”400″ src=”https://www.sportsnews.com.au/soccer/match.php?id=930001″]

Odds Comparison:

Sydney FC	3.25	3.20	3.50	3.20	3.25	3.40
Draw	3.60	3.50	3.25	3.50	3.60	3.40
Brisbane Roar	2.10	2.12	2.02	2.12	2.10	2.00

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

Teams:

Sydney FC squad:

1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Nikola PETKOVIC, 9.Corey GAMEIRO, 10.Alessandro DEL PIERO (c), 11.Richard GARCIA, 13.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 15.Terry MCFLYNN, 16.Joel CHIANESE, 17.Terry ANTONIS, 19.Nick CARLE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 22.Ali ABBAS, 24.Hagi GLIGOR, 28.Matt THOMPSON, 29.Alec UROSEVSKI, 34.Aaron CALVER
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 15.Terry MCFLYNN (promoted), 16.Joel CHIANESE (promoted), 19.Nick CARLE (promoted)
Outs: 4.Ranko DESPOTOVIC (knee – 4 weeks)
Unavailable: Rhyan GRANT (knee – season), Pedj BOJIC (back – season)

Brisbane Roar squad:
1.Michael THEO, 2.Matthew SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 7.Besart BERISHA, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10.HENRIQUE, 11.Liam MILLER, 14.Diogo FERRIERA, 17.Matt McKAY, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Matthew ACTON (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 26.Corey BROWN, 28.Brandon BORRELLO.
Ins: 14.Diogo FERREIRA (promoted), 28.Brandon BORRELLO (promoted)
Outs: 5.Ivan FRANJIC (ankle – 1 week), 13.Jade NORTH (hamstring – 1 week), 15.James DONACHIE (hamstring – 2 weeks), 16.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO (quad – 1 week)
Unavailable: 25.George LAMBADARDIS (knee – season)

Preview:

Round 23 of the A-League kicks off this weekend, with a big game for the Brisbane Roar and mounting pressure on other teams as the finals draw near. Brisbane will win the Premier’s Plate if they defeat Sydney FC on Friday night, but only if both the Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory also lose their matches.

The Roar are expected to win away from home at Allianz Stadium, Friday night at 7.30pm.  While the Sky Blues will be positive after a 3-1 win over Western Sydney last week, Brisbane have scored nine goals against Sydney in their last two matches and have what it takes to score even more this round.

The Roar will also be well aware of their – albeit small – opportunity to wrap up the Premier’s Plate, and will want to give themselves every chance of doing so.  In contrast, Sydney are desperate to hang on to the top six with only five games left in the season, and how they deal with this pressure will be a big factor on the outcome of this match.

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Alessandro Del Piero (Sydney FC): In his absence against Wellington Phoenix last week, Sydney struggled for creativity and there was a lack of communication between the midfield and forward lines. His return is timely for the dipping form of the Sky Blues.

2. Kwame Yeboah (Brisbane Roar): Fresh after signing with Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach, Yeboah returns just in time to play Sydney FC in what will be one of his last games in a Roar jersey. The young striker will probably start on the bench but that is usually where he’s at his most dangerous – just ask the Mariners and Wanderers.

3. Luke Brattan (Brisbane Roar): Perhaps the lowest in profile of the Roar’s three central players, Brattan is becoming one of the A-League’s most consistent deep midfielders. He has even been favoured on set pieces ahead of marquee man Thomas Broich.

4. Ranko Despotovic (Sydney FC): Sydney’s newest signing is establishing himself as one of their most important players with three goals in five games to his name. He was one of the few notable performers in the 1-0 loss to Wellington last week.

5. Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar): Since being deployed in a more attacking role under Mike Mulvey, Franjic has blossomed into one of the A-League’s best right-sided players.

THE KEY MATCH-UP

Nikola Petkovic (Sydney) v Henrique (Brisbane)

There couldn’t be more of a contrast than Sydney’s imposing centreback and Brisbane’s nimble striker but the clash between the two will probably decide the game. Henrique will spearhead the Roar’s attack in the absence of the injured Besart Berisha and will come up against the league’s form defender.

IN THE DUGOUT

Frank Farina (Sydney FC)

After reviving Sydney’s hopes this season with a club record four-game winning streak, Farina could find himself coming under scrutiny once again should he lose to the Roar. Given that Sydney’s last two performances have been lacklustre to say the least, a third successive poor display could witness the ire of the ever-demanding Sydney FC fans.

Mike Mulvey (Brisbane Roar)

After losing 2-0 to Newcastle Jets last week in a match they dominated from start to finish, the Roar coach will be itching to bounce back and prevent the A-League leaders flirting with a form slump. The Roar have won four of their past five games against Sydney but Mulvey is yet to win at Allianz Stadium.