Saturday’s second A-League Round 25 match is between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 7.45pm with the game to be played at AAMI Park. The home team Melbourne Victory are the favourites for the match. View our live scores and teams for the game between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.

Round: Round 25, Saturday March 29 at 7.45pm AEDT.
Stadium: AAMI Park
Head to head: Played: 30, Wins: Victory 9, Sydney 9, Draws: 12
Previous encounter: Victory 0-5 Sydney, January 26, 2014

[iframe_loader width=”690″ height=”530″ src=”https://www.sportsnews.com.au/soccer/match.php?id=930016″]

Odds Comparison:

Melbourne Victory	1.91	1.85	1.94	1.85	1.91	1.91
Draw	3.60	3.50	3.50	3.50	3.60	3.50
Sydney FC	3.70	4.15	3.60	4.15	3.70	3.60

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

Preview:

The Victory take on Sydney in one of the more anticipated matches of Round 25, kicking off on Saturday, 7.45PM at AAMI Park. Sydney are currently in seventh position after their loss away to Adelaide last Friday night, just behind the Newcastle Jets in sixth who had a victory at home to Wellington Phoenix. Frank Farina’s team will be desperate for a win here after struggling to create opportunities in recent weeks.

The Victory will be favourites to win this one, and will be extra keen to seek revenge after their big loss to the Sky Blues earlier in the season. A win for the home side will keep Muscat’s men in the race for a top-two finish, no matter who takes the points in Gosford when the Mariners play the Wanderers. Guilherme Finkler is likely to start for the Victory this weekend and could make the difference.

Teams:

Melbourne Victory squad:
1.Nathan COE (gk), 2.Pablo CONTRERAS, 3.Adama TRAORE, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5.Mark MILLIGAN (C), 7.Gui FINKLER, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 14.James TROISI, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.James JEGGO, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Tom ROGIC, 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 23.Adrian LEIJER, 24.Scott GALLOWAY, 25.Jason GERIA, 31.Dylan MURNANE
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Pablo CONTRERAS (returns from injury), 3.Adama TRAORE (returns from injury), 4.Nick ANSELL (returns from injury)
Outs: 6.Leigh BROXHAM (suspension – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil

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,16.Joel CHIANESE, 17.Terry ANTONIS, 18.Peter TRIANTIS, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 21.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 22.Ali ABBAS, 24.Hagi GLIGOR, 28.Matt THOMPSON, 29.Alec UROSEVSKI, 34.Aaron CALVER
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 18.Peter TRIANTIS (promoted), 21.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC (promoted).
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Rhyan GRANT (knee – season), Pedj BOJIC (back – season), Ranko DESPOTOVIC (knee – 2 weeks), Terry McFLYNN (knee – 2 weeks)

News:

Sydney FC central defender Sasa Ognenovski has signed a one-year contract extension with the Sky Blues, keeping the 2010 Asian Player of the Year at the club until the end of next season.

The Socceroo returned to Australia to play for Frank Farina’s side in February, adding some much needed starch and leadership to the Sky Blues back-four. Ognenovski’s standout performances in his six appearances have prompted Sydney FC to move swiftly to extend his deal.

“I’m delighted to be staying for another year at Sydney FC,” said Ognenovski. “We are building a good squad for next season and the club has some very talented youngsters coming through the ranks so I think that is a huge positive.

“I like the bold ambitions the club is setting and hopefully I can be a big part of that.”

Coach Frank Farina welcomed the re-signing of the the former Brisbane and Adelaide defender, who captained South Korean club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma to the AFC Champions League title in 2010.

“Sasa has provided extra strength and discipline in our defensive line and has thoroughly deserved this new deal,” said Farina.

“He is an asset to the club and is an integral part of a strong backbone that every team needs.

“I believe he still has plenty of good football left in him and his experience in the games ahead and next year will be invaluable.”

Ognenovski has played 22 times for the Socceroos, scoring one goal.

Sydney FC will endeavour to stay in the finals race when they travel to Melbourne to take on Victory this Saturday night, in what shakes as a pivotal Big Blue derby for both sides. The Sky Blues will host Wellington and Perth to complete the regular season.

Profile

Name: Sasa Ognenovski
Age: 34
Born: April 3rd 1979
Place of Birth: Melbourne, Australia.
Nationality: Australian
Height: 195 cm

Career

1997 – 2000 – Preston Lions – 88 (8)
2000 – 2002 – Melbourne Knights – 51 (0)
2002 – 2003 – Panachaiki – 2 (0)
2003 – 2004 – Preston Lions – 26 (0)
2005 Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues – 16 (2)
2006 – 2008 – Queensland Roar – 38 (2)
2008 – 2009 – Adelaide United – 23 (3)
2009 – 2012 – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma – 80 (9)
2012 – 2014 – Umm Salal – 8 (0)
2014 – Sydney FC – 6 (1)

International

2010 – Australia – 22 (1)