Melbourne City will be looking to bounce back from defeat last time out when it faces Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on Sunday.
City returns home to after an unsuccessful trip over to Adelaide where it went down 4-2 in a high-scoring affair at Coopers Stadium.
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Here’s a few things to watch out for this Sunday.
A long run of form at AAMI against the Roar
There’s no better way to bounce back from defeat than to return to the fortress where success seems to be second nature.
City returns to AAMI Park boasting an almighty record against the Roar, undefeated in its past 16 meetings (W13, D3) with the Brisbane-based outfit on home soil.
City has only ever lost to the Roar at home just once, with that defeat dating all the way back to 2010, the two sides first-ever meeting at the venue.
Up against a Roar side languishing in 10th place on the table, City’s fans will be hoping to see that long streak continue.
Clean Sheet incoming?
Before last week’s loss City had been travelling pretty well, Rado Vidosic’s men securing three wins from four and netting 17 goals in the process.
Comfortably leading the league for goals scored this season with 44, even in City’s three losses its always managed to find the back of the net.
In recent weeks though, despite scoring enough at the other end of the pitch to come away with victory, City hasn’t kept a clean sheet in six matches, it’s last coming in a 0-0 draw against the side it will face this Sunday.
It will have no better chance to secure the shut out than against a side that has lacked creativity and punch in the final third of the pitch.
Roar have only managed 17 goals for the season and as a result, also have recorded the most draws (8) of any team.
If City’s attacking threats can fire up front on Sunday, Roar may struggle to stamp their authority on the contest which opens the door for the City backline to add an exclamation mark on the performance with a clean sheet.
Tilio in strong spot of form
Marco Tilio has picked up the slack left by the absence of Mathew Leckie, scoring another goal last week against Adelaide to now make it two goals and one assist in his past two games.
Despite being the smallest man not just in the box but on the pitch, Tilio managed to wriggle himself free of the Adelaide defence and guide a header into the bottom corner to give City hope of a late comeback.
As City chases its 150th win in the A-League Men on Sunday, be sure to keep an eye out on City’s young star to weave his magic once again, especially as the Roar defence begins to tire at the backend of both halves.
He showed what he can do with his dazzling run and goal against Sydney FC last time he pulled on the boots at home, so expect to see him back in the thick of the action once again this weekend.
This run of form also comes at a good time for the winger, with a Socceroos squad announcement imminent in the next week or so ahead of friendlies against Ecuador later this month.
What happened last time?
Last time these two sides met was back in January where City played out a 0-0 draw at Dolphin Stadium.
Both sides exchanged chances throughout the duration of the contest but ultimately, neither could find a winner.
This also marks the third time these teams will face off this season, having also played back in Round 1 where Jamie Maclaren begun the campaign strongly, netting a brace in a 2-0 win.
How have our opponents been travelling?
It was a case of close but no cigar for Roar last time out, handed a 3-2 loss at the death by Macarthur FC.
Goals from Jay O’Shea and Jez Lofthouse in the space of two minutes brought Brisbane right back into the contest at 2-2, only for Jake McGing to break Brisbane hearts with a last-minute goal in stoppage time.
Its offensive woes in front of goal have hampered Brisbane’s success this season, only registering four wins and now finding itself at risk of dropping down to last on the table if Victory can scrape together a win.
MATCH DETAILS
A-League Men: Round 20
Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar
AAMI Park
Sunday 12 March, 3:00PM KO
