Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC battle out the third Big Blue of thes season as they look to bolster their chances of maintaining a place in the top six
Mid-week AFC Champions League matches
Both sides enter this clash off the back of two very different Champions League matches in the middle of the week. Not only did Sydney travel to Japan while Melbourne stayed at home, but Victory pulled off a last gasp win over Shanghai SIPG, while the Sky Blues were punished for their own mistakes in a 2-0 loss to the Urawa Reds. With both sides suffering frustrating months, and sitting precariously close to Perth outside the top six, the importance of their significantly different ACL encounters cannot be overstated; particularly given the mental, physical and team morale advantage Kevin Muscat’s men will have over the tired and beaten Sky Blues.
Sydney’s defensive collapse
That mid-week loss to Urawa, as well as the side’s derby draw last weekend were both underpinned by two factors: Sydney’s well documented trouble up front, and a complete breakdown in defence. Sydney were strong enough to pick up a draw in Japan had it not been for two basic defensive errors that gifted Urawa with goals and ultimately the win. Although uncharacteristic to the Sydney that started the campaign, the Sky Blues have completely collapsed at the back recently, conceding eight goals in their last four games. Unless communication, confidence and individual responsibility improves, Sydney could see their defence just as much to blame for a failed season as their docile attack.
Victory’s run of tough fixtures
Although bolstered by that all important win over Shanghai SIPG, it has to be noted Victory still enter the match off the back of a tough run of must win matches. Over the past six weeks Muscat’s side have played three huge rivals in Adelaide, Melbourne City and Sydney as well as the resurgent Perth and first placed sides Brisbane and Western Sydney. With six highly important clashes back-to-back, combined with a mid-week fixture there is no denying the past run of games have taken or will take a toll on Melbourne as they run out for what is set to be another high-tempo, tense clash with Sydney FC.
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