Saturday’s A-League 2017 Round 1 match is between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:55 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The away team Sydney FC are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC .
When: 19:55 | Saturday 07/10/2017
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
The Big Blue is always an exciting match-up although it is disappointing that there will be key players missing from the game. Victory will be severely depleted with Milligan, Barbarouses and Troisi all on international duty. If you look at how the teams matched up last season, Sydney dominated in two and a half regular season matches and Victory turned the grand final into an arm wrestle.
Danny Vukovic was completely dominant last season and the one weakness in the Sydney FC team may be in the goalkeeper position. Andrew Redmayne has not proven that he is at that same level. The Victory at full strength struggled to get through the Sydney defence to get high quality shots at Vukovic, and we think this will ultimately protect Redmayne.
FINAL SAY: There is nothing to suggest that Sydney is anything less than the team that dominated the A-League last season. The Sky Blues exposed the Victory midfield on several occasions, making them uncomfortable on the ball and Melbourne struggled to hold possession. Without key midfielders to hold the ball the Victory will fight it out but will likely come away with a loss.
Odds:
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Tip: Sydney FC at $2.35
Value Bet: First Goalscorer: Alex Brosque at $6.50
Correct Score: Sydney FC 1-0 at $11.00
Teams:
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk) 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Rhys WILLIAMS, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Besart BERISHA, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 14.Thomas DENG, 15.Cameron McGILP, 16.Josh HOPE, 17.James DONACHIE, 18.Matias SANCHEZ, 19.Pierce WARING, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 31.Christian THEOHAROUS, 41.Leroy GEORGE
**two to be omitted**
Unavailable: 5.Mark MILLIGAN (International duty – 1 week), 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES (International duty – 1 week), 10.James TROISI (International duty – 1 week)
Sydney FC Squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE, 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Adrian MIERZEJEWSKI, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 16.Anthony KALIK, 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 20.Alex CISAK, 22.Seb RYALL, 26.Luke WILKSHIRE, 30.Tom HEWARD-BELLE.
**two to be omitted**
Unavailable: 21.Charles LOKOLINGOY (hamstring – 3 weeks), 23.Rhyan GRANT (knee – indefinite)
