ALM PREVIEW: City v Brisbane

Staff Writers

5 January, 2026

Melbourne City continues our extended run of home fixtures at AAMI Park on Tuesday night, returning off a short turnaround to host Brisbane Roar under lights.

While the full three points remained elusive last time out, City will take confidence from a much-improved performance against Sydney FC on Saturday night, particularly in a dominant second-half showing. With another home opportunity arriving quickly, Aurelio Vidmar’s men will be eager to turn promising signs into a positive result as we chase our first win of 2026.

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Here are the key talking points ahead of Tuesday’s clash:

Finding the back of the net

Much of City’s recent frustration during the current five-game winless run has stemmed from difficulties in front of goal, with the side yet to score multiple goals in a match since late November. While that drought continued against Sydney FC, the underlying performance marked a clear step in the right direction.

City created a wealth of opportunities throughout the contest, finishing with 23 shots and nine on target while enjoying long spells of sustained pressure, particularly after the break.

On another night, that dominance could easily have translated into goals, but a combination of strong goalkeeping from Harrison Devenish-Meares and some desperate last-ditch defending kept City out.

Encouragingly, several attacking players looked sharp, with Andreas Kuen and Medin Memeti both heavily involved in City’s most dangerous moments. The challenge now is turning volume into reward, and with another home fixture arriving quickly, City will be hoping persistence in the final third is finally met with the breakthrough it deserves.

Young guns return at a crucial time

City’s squad for Tuesday night brings mixed injury news, but it is highlighted by the welcome returns of young duo Alessandro Lopane and Lawrence Wong. Both players have completed long rehabilitation journeys after ankle and knee injuries respectively, and are now available for selection for the first time this season.

Their inclusion provides a timely boost to City’s depth, particularly with attacking options stretched following injuries sustained over the weekend. Wong’s energy and creativity in advanced areas, combined with Lopane’s versatility, offer Vidmar additional flexibility as another demanding stretch of fixtures continues.

However, City will be without Kavian Rahmani and Takeshi Kanamori, who both suffered injuries late in Saturday’s draw. The pair underwent scans on Monday afternoon, with further updates expected in the coming days. Their absence places added responsibility on those stepping in, but it also opens the door for returning and emerging players to make an impact as City looks to build momentum.

A physical test awaits

Brisbane Roar arrive in Melbourne with a reputation as one of the league’s most physical and defensively resilient sides, and City will be well aware of the challenge that awaits. The two teams met earlier in the season at Suncorp Stadium, playing out a tight, scoreless draw in what was a cagey 90 minutes.

That defensive solidity has been a hallmark of Brisbane’s campaign, with the Roar boasting one of the stingiest backlines in the competition, having conceded the second-fewest goals across the league. Interestingly, a significant portion of those goals came just last weekend, when Wellington Phoenix claimed a 3–0 victory in Brisbane despite playing much of the match with 10 men.

Off the back of that disappointing result, expect a fired-up Roar outfit determined to respond, just as City looks to end our own winless run. With both sides chasing their first win of the new year, Tuesday night shapes as a hard-fought and physical contest at AAMI Park.