If there’s one fixture you don’t want to miss this season, it’s Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby according to Melbourne City and Socceroos star, Mathew Leckie.
Leckie, who has been named in City’s extended squad for the match at AAMI Park, is looking forward to a fierce battle on the field and the electric atmosphere off it.
“You’re unable to experience this every week… if you really want to experience a good game of football, there’s no better than a derby,” Leckie said.
“There will be a real intensity in the game and there should be a good atmosphere as well with spectators and fans from both clubs.”
Be there as we host Melbourne Victory in our home opener.
This Saturday’s Melbourne Derby will be the first time City face former Head Coach and Captain, Patrick Kisnorbo.
Leckie says it’s a meeting that is set to add a little extra spice to the Melbourne Derby.
“It just adds more fuel to the derby, I had two good years with PK and he obviously had his success before I came,” he said.
“He had a big part in the success at Melbourne City, so it adds more fuel to the game. Knowing him as a coach and how he prepared us, we know that Victory is going to come out firing, really intense and aggressive, so it should match the derby perfectly.”
Following a resilient Round 1 win in Newcastle, City will be eager to make it back-to-back wins with three points over their cross-town rivals.
“The first game is always a tricky one, you obviously play friendlies but it’s not the same intensity,” Leckie said.
“To get a result away is massive and there was obviously a lot of positives from what we’ve done in the pre-season, but I can only imagine that we’re just going to get stronger.
“I think it’s super important to have a good start to the season, so it’s not catch up, it’s trying to get further away.”
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