Saturday’s A-League 2016 Round 5 match is between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. The opening kick off is set to commence at 19:45 local time with the game to be played at Allianz Stadium. The home team Sydney FC are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
‘The Big Blue’ is one of the A-League’s marquee match-ups.
Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory have enjoyed a healthy rivalry since day 1 and this game will be no different.
FC are at the top of their game, and are firm favourites going into this one. The team is full of confidence and eager to continue their impressive start to the season.
Their new signings have blended in very quickly, with Marquee man Bobo (pictured above) proving to be an instant hit.
With captain Alex Brosque returning to full fitness and in fine scoring touch, Sydney are deadly in front of goal.
Things are looking good for Graham Arnold, who not only has a strong starting 11 at the moment, but is also blessed with plenty of depth in his squad.
Victory were comprehensive 6-1 winners over the Phoenix, and it was great to see all three front men on the scoresheet.
Besart Berisha (pictured above) hit a hat trick, Marco Rojas chipped in with two goals and Mitch Austin grabbed the other.
Berisha, who now has 85 A-League goals, is the key to this frontline. His work rate and winning mentality is what Victory need to overcome a Sydney defence which has yet to concede a goal.
KEY BATTLE: Michael Zullo v Marco Rojas
While Berisha scored a hat-trick, Rojas is the man who can unlock this strong Sydney defence.
Zullo has been just one of FC’s stand out performers and will need to continue that form against the dangerous Kiwi.
The verdict
Sydney are on fire at the moment and will be hard to beat.
Victory will be full of confidence after downing phoenix but FC should still prove too strong.
Unibet Odds: Sydney FC 1.87 Draw 3.75 Melbourne Victory 4.00
Tip: Sydney FC
Teams:
Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Joshua BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Bernie IBINI, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.George BLACKWOOD, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 22.Sebastian RYALL, 23.Rhyan GRANT.
Melbourne Victory squad: 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Nick ANSELL, 6.Leigh BROXHAM (c), 7.Marco ROJAS, 8.Besart BERISHA, 10.James TROISI, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15.Alan BARO, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.James DONACHIE, 19.George HOWARD, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 22.Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 27.Alastair BRAY (gk).
