Melbourne City travel to Allianz Stadium to kick off their Hyundai A-League season against Graham Arnold’s Sydney FC.
Sydney FC approach season 11 of the A-League with a number of fresh faces. European recruits Milos Ninkovic and Filip Holosko will do well to slot into a Sydney side that, with the exception of Marc Janko, kept the core of its successful 2014-15 season. A raft of youngsters also arrived during the break, most notably the likes of Andrew Hoole and Riley Woodcock who will be looking to nab a place in the starting XI.
Preseason results were a bit of a mixed bag. After downing Western Australian club Sorrento FC in the FFA Cup, Sydney fell to current holders Adelaide United in the following round. However, the Harbour City club did put together a string of wins, including a 4-0 friendly drubbing of the South Coast Wolves.
Meanwhile, Melbourne City enter just their sixth year in the competition, once again buoyed by some tidy recruiting. Uruguayan Bruno Fornaroli looks to solve John van’t Schip’s long-term striker problem with the re-signing of Harry Novillo also a key attacking addition. At the other end of the pitch, former-Fulham man Aaron Hughes should help provide stability as Aaron Mooy looks to dominate from midfield once more.
As for City’s form, an impressive FFA Cup run has landed them in the semi-finals. The pick of those results was a rampant 5-1 win over Wellington Phoenix where they found five different scorers. A side on the brim of genuine competitiveness, this may well be their year.
Key Battle – Erik Paartalu vs Milos Dimitrijevic
A midfield battle in this one with the defensive qualities of Erik Paartalu being put to the test against the diminutive Milos Dimitrijevic. Without his midfield partner Mooy, Paartalu must be at his best if he is to effectively nullify Sydney’s main playmaker.
In Dimitrijevic, Sydney posses one of the best passers of the ball in the league and with the pace and wit of Brosque and Naumoff in wider areas, Sydney’s penetration must be cut at the source. Likely to have an inexperienced midfielder partnering him in the season opener, Paartalu has a huge task ahead of him as he organises City’s midfield.
Team News
Graham Arnold looks to have his entire squad to select from after a diligent bedding in process slowly introduced his foreign stars to the fray. In Arnold’s customary 4-2-3-1, expect Matthew Jurman and Sebastian Ryall to continue at the heart of the defence with Milos Dimitrejivic and Mickael Tavares likely to continue in midfield. Up front, Shane Smeltz seems ready to fill the void left by the departing Janko.
Sydney FC Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Janjetovic (GK); Ryall, Faty, Jurman, Grant; Dimitrijevic, Tavares; Naumoff, Ninkovic, Brosque; Smeltz.
Meanwhile van’t Schip may opt for a number of his offseason recruits but is limited by a lengthy injury list including the likes of Corey Gameiro, Marc Marino and James Brown. A fluid 4-3-3 should start in goal with veteran Dane Thomas Sorensen, who looks set for his A-League debut with Hughes and Patrick Kisnorbo providing him protection. Youngster Jacob Melling will play a role in midfield alongside Paartalu with Mooy away on Socceroo duty. Fornaroli will lead the line.
Melbourne City Expected XI (4-3-3): Sorensen (GK); Franjic, Hughes, Kisnorbo, Zullo; Paartalu, Melling, Koren; Novillo, Fornaroli, Dekker.
Head-to-Head
Having played on 15 occassions, City head into this match with a slightly better record. The Melbournians have come out on top on five occassions with Sydney winning just four games and the sides drawing on six occassions.
Previous Meeting
The two sides last met at the Allianz Stadium in round 22 of last season where a late James Brown goal was enough to clinch the match for the visitors. Sydney FC spurned a host of chances and were taken on the counter to give Melbourne City a valuable three points.
Prediction
Without many of the injuries their opponents are dealing with, Sydney FC look poised to grab the win in this one. A Mooy-less Melbourne may not be at their very best but they should succeed with all of their big names back and firing.
Sydney FC 2 Melbourne City 1
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