The 2015-16 A-League season finally gets underway at Pirtek Stadium when the Western Sydney Wanderers take on the Brisbane Roar tomorrow night.
The offseason has been a tumultuous one for Brisbane, with well-documented ownership and financial troubles plaguing the club. Personnel and staff changes have also dominated headlines, with John Aloisi looking to resurrect his managerial career at the helm of the Queensland club. After a relatively successful preseason, bar an early FFA Cup exit to Western Sydney, it is clear that Aloisi is determined to revert to the attacking style previously associated with the Roar’s A-League dominance. The question is, does he have the players to take Brisbane to the top once again?
MORE: Listen to Nikolai Toper-Stanley on the Daily Football Show
The Western Sydney Wanderers will be doing everything in its power to banish the memories of a forgettable 2014-15 domestic campaign. Tony Popovic will be aiming to make a statement in the first round after a massive squad clear-out in the offseason. With no ACL campaign or FIFA Club World Cup adventures to distract Western Sydney, expectations will be high once again from its voracious fan base.
Key Battle – Jamie Maclaren vs Federico Piovaccari
Two strikers with different things to prove. Making the switch to Brisbane Roar after Perth Glory’s salary cap debacle, Jamie Maclaren will be out to prove his worth as the starting number nine for Brisbane Roar. The 22-year-old scored nine goals in 20 appearances for the Glory and could be the answer to the Roar’s problems up top.
Meanwhile, after a less than impressive preseason Federico Piovaccari will be itching to fire for the first home match of the A-League season. Despite being somewhat of a journeyman, Piovacarri’s resume is still impressive for an A-League import, scoring 84 goals during his time in Europe. It is an integral that the 31-year-old Italian gets on the score sheet regularly, considering the Wanderers lack depth in the vital target man position.
Team News
The Wanderers are without wingers Mark Bridge and Golgol Mebrahtu who are both recovering from injuries. Goal poacher Brendon Santalab will also be missing. Australian marquee Dario Vidosic may not be fully fit to claim a spot in the starting XI.
A huge list of injuries means a threadbare Roar squad will face Western Sydney on Thursday night. Busy midfielder Matt McKay is tied up with international duty and is the biggest loss for the Roar coming into this fixture, but Aloisi will also be light in defence with Shane Steffanuto, Luke DeVere and James Donachie all unavailable. Henrique and Jean Carlos Solorzano are both out, while new Spanish signing Javier Hervas Salmoral has not been listed for the upcoming fixture.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have faced each other 11 times, with Western Sydney having a narrow edge over the Roar with five wins to its four. There have been two draws between the clubs in the A-League.
Previous Meeting
The Wanderers overcame Brisbane Roar 1-0 in the FFA Cup Round of 32. Gogol Mebrahtu shone as the lone goal scorer, making a spectacular comeback after a year out with an ACL injury.
Prediction
Brisbane’s injury list is an extensive one and will most likely mean that Western Sydney will prevail in the opening fixture at Pirtek Stadium.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 Brisbane Roar 0
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
