Melbourne City will be out for a second consecutive win in this Sunday’s A-League Women’s Melbourne Derby.
Just three games remain this season so there will be plenty of the line when we return to Bundoora for what’s set to be a tense 90 minutes.
Here are a few of the major talking points ahead of this one!
Continuing the Premiers Plate push
After two wins from our first eight games of 2024, we turned things around with a much-needed three points against Newcastle Jets last time out.
Hannah Wilkinson was on target twice in the space of six minutes early in the second half, Bryleeh Henry being credited with both assists in a Player of the Match performance in her new role at right back.
That win put us right back in the mix for the Premiers Plate and an all-important top-two finish, now trailing Western United at the top by just a point, while Sydney FC (who also has a game in hand) sit a point behind us.
Victory will have plenty of motivation come Sunday too sitting just another point back themselves, able to jump us should they be victorious on Sunday.
Our squad this weekend receives a big boost, with Julia Grosso named to return after being sidelined for the last two months due to a calf injury.
Sweeping the Derbies
Sunday will be the second Melbourne Derby of the season and we’ll be looking to make it a clean sweep for 2023/24 after running out winners back in Round 9.
We were clearly the dominant team on the day firing off 27 shots to 15 and holding possession for two-thirds of the 90 minutes, but Emina Ekic’s early strike would be the only goal of the day.
While we certainly won’t need any extra motivation given all that is at stake this Sunday, our City Women will surely be excited about the prospect of making it two for two in Derbies this season.
After having not won any of the three meetings last season, it would be a fitting turnaround to take six points from this seasons fixtures.
Returning to familiar surroundings
While Sunday will technically be an away fixture, we’ll be travelling to a play at a location we’re quite familiar with.
We’re off to Bundoora to play at the ‘Home of the Matildas’, located just a short walk away from our old training base.
The added benefit of no-interstate travel will certainly be welcomed, this game coming in the middle of a run of three consecutive games in Melbourne.
We’ll only have to leave the state for our final game of the regular season, making the trip west to face Perth in a fortnight.
Fixture Details
A-League Women: Round 20
Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City FC
Sunday 17 March, 2:00pm KO
Home of the Matildas, Bundoora
