Adelaide United open their 2015-16 A-League campaign against arch-rivals and title favourites Melbourne Victory at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
An understrength Adelaide outfit will head into the clash as very the much underdog, given their recent dismal record against the Victorians and the omission of two of their regulars. United were freshly sent packing from this year’s FFA Cup, following a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Melbourne and will look to use that loss as a source of extra motivation for the encounter. Guillermo Amor succeeded Josep Gombau as coach over the winter and may still require time to impart his philosophy, albeit similar to his predecessor on the players before we see a side playing with confidence and fluency. The void left by a number of notable departures including Nigel Boogaard and Awer Mabil have been filled by Iacopo La Rocca, Mate Dugandzic and Eli Babalj during the break.
As for the Melbourne, Kevin Muscat’s team remains the front-runner for this year’s championship, after its convincing 3-0 feat against Sydney FC in the grand final last term. The team will be desperate to start its campaign in victorious fashion in order to stamp its authority on the competition. Another offseason of meticulous recruitment has also persuaded many to believe no one can seriously compete with them. The shrewd acquisitions of goalkeeper Danny Vukovic, utility Oliver Bozanic and defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco have only enhanced Melbourne’s reputation as a force to be revered by rival clubs.
Key Battle – Marcelo Carrusca vs Fahid Ben Khalfallah
With a plethora of attacking talent on display, the outcome of the match could be decided by which of these two aforementioned players has a huge influence on proceedings. Carrusca will be vital in generating United’s attacking movement by playing incisive through balls to unlock a sturdy Melbourne back four. Ben Khalfallah will attempt to create havoc on the wing with his exceptional dribbling ability and shrewd passing range. The Tunisian is also capable of delivering pinpoint crosses whipped into the box, with pace and purpose – a nightmare for opposition defences.
Team News
Guillermo Amor’s first league game in charge will see the Spaniard be forced into fielding a depleted lineup against the old enemy. Gloveman and skipper Eugene Galekovic as well as versatile full-back Tarek Elrich will be absent from the clash on international duty with the Socceroos. New signing Iacopo La Rocca will also have to wait for his A-League debut in a Reds shirt as he suffered a broken foot, while youngsters Bruce Kamau and Jordan Elsey remain on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Kevin Muscat will be without A-League top-scorer Archie Thompson who sustained a medial ligament injury against Adelaide in last month’s FFA Cup quarter-final. Nick Ansell will also miss with a foot injury. Winger Kosta Barbarouses is out on national team duty with New Zealand, with Connor Pain or Oliver Bozanic speculated to replace him.
Head-to-Head
Adelaide and Melbourne have met on 36 occasions with the Victory utterly dominating this fixture with 18 triumphs to the Reds’ 10, leaving eight stalemates. Incidentally, the previous time United overcame its counterpart dates back to February 2013. However, Melbourne have not triumphed in Adelaide since September 2009.
Previous Meeting
In the corresponding fixture last season, the Reds and Melbourne played out an entertaining 2-2 draw back in March at Coopers Stadium, after Thompson denied the home side the win with 13 minutes remaining.
Prediction
The Victory will virtually be at full-strength for Friday’s game which will obviously bode well for the visitors. If Kevin Muscat’s men illustrate their ominous attacking form they showed previously against United in that FFA Cup game, then there appears only one winner. The absence of two stalwarts in the Reds defence only compounds their struggles in having any chance of beating what is a formidable and arguably unstoppable side in Melbourne. Expect a fiery and tempestuous atmosphere where we could also see a number of bookings.
Adelaide United 1 Melbourne Victory 3
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