Melbourne City will aim to continue building momentum and make it back-to-back wins when we take to the pitch in Perth on Sunday.
With two wins from three to start the season, our trip west marks our final fixture before the season’s first international break.
Here are a few of the major talking points heading into Sunday night’s clash!
REPLACING A HUGE HOLE IN ATTACK
What should’ve been a positive night was sadly marred by two key injuries to City stars.
Andrew Nabbout has been ruled out for the season due to an ACL rupture, while Marco Tilio is also set for a lengthy absence after an injury to his hamstring tendon.
This leaves Aurelio Vidmar with a couple of massive spots to fill, which is certainly not easy given that several other attacking players are already on the injury list.
Yonatan Cohen is the obvious one to step back into the XI after only coming out of the lineup due to illness last week and can play either on the wing or centrally.
Medin Memeti shapes up as another possible inclusion after being the first one called off the bench on Monday night, while another option could be a reshuffle at the back, allowing Nathaniel Atkinson to slide forward to occupy one of the wings.
LEAVING IT ALL OUT THERE
An extended layoff is on the horizon for City, with next weekend’s international break immediately followed by our first bye of the season.
Three wins and one loss certainly looks far prettier on the table than two wins and two losses, so there’s plenty on the line this Sunday.
Despite the injury troubles and Captain Aziz Behich still being out through suspension, Vidmar will be expecting nothing less than another strong performance from his team on the road.
While the City Head Coach confirmed when speaking to media pre-match that Mathew Leckie won’t start, the City number 7 will likely be on track for some extended minutes after playing around 20 on his return from injury on Monday.
GETTING ONE BACK
We’ve already faced Perth once this campaign – way back in August for the Australia Cup Round of 32.
There was a large spread of goal scorers that night; Max Caputo, Harry Politidis, Nabbout and Zane Schreiber all finding the back of the net.
Unfortunately though, some late drama saw Perth equalise in the dying stages, before breaking through for the winner in extra time.
While that game did come in the early parts of pre-season, it’ll still provide a little added motivation come Sunday night.
Perth will come into the contest fired up and desperate for a win though after a slow start to the season.
After disappointing losses in the first two rounds, David Zdrillic’s team look to be turning things around, securing their first points of the season in a scoreless draw away to the Mariners last week.
FIXTURE DETAILS
A-League Men: Round 4
Perth Glory v Melbourne City FC
HBF Park
Sunday 10 November, 8:45pm KO
While our Men’s squad won’t be taking to the pitch next weekend, an action-packed City Fan Festival, presented by Federation University, is coming your way at the City Football Academy Melbourne – ctrl:cyber Campus at Casey Fields on Saturday 16 November. Find out more and don’t miss it!
