One of the biggest fixtures in Club history is fast approaching for Melbourne City, with the second leg of our AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 tie set to take place in Thailand on Tuesday night.
Things are evenly poised heading into the decisive clash at Buriram Stadium after last week’s dramatic 1-1 draw in Melbourne. A stunning first-half strike from Buriram United forward Bissoli had the visitors ahead, before Ben Mazzeo rose highest deep into stoppage time to head home a crucial equaliser.
That late goal, the fifth time we’ve found the net beyond the 90th minute in this season’s AFC Champions League Elite campaign, ensures the tie remains wide open, with a place in the Quarter Finals on the line.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s late kick-off, which you can watch live on Paramount+.
History up for grabs
It has already been a history-making AFC Champions League Elite campaign for Melbourne City, but there is still plenty more on the line heading into Tuesday night’s decisive second leg.
Earlier in the tournament, City became the first Australian side in almost a decade to win three consecutive matches in Asia’s premier club competition. That strong run helped us secure qualification for the knockout stages for the first time in Club history – also making us the first Australian team to reach this stage since 2020.
The current seven-match unbeaten run in the competition is another sign of just how impressive the continental campaign has been so far. The only Australian side to enjoy a longer unbeaten streak in the tournament was Adelaide United on their way to the Final in 2008, a team of course coached by Aurelio Vidmar.
Last week’s dramatic draw showed the group’s resilience, with Mazzeo’s stoppage-time header cancelling out Bissoli’s opener to leave the tie locked at 1-1 on aggregate.
With everything to play for in the second leg, the opportunity to reach the Quarter Finals of Asia’s premier club competition is firmly within reach.
Fresh legs and big decisions
While the second leg will be played away from home, City will actually head into Tuesday night with more preparation time than we had before the first meeting in Melbourne.
The first leg came just three days after our A-League clash in Auckland, with the squad returning to Melbourne around 48 hours before the match and only having a single training session to prepare. Despite that challenging turnaround, City produced a strong performance and stayed in the contest right until the final moments.
This time around, the squad has had a full week to recover, train and prepare for one of the most important matches in the Club’s history.
With our next A-League fixture not arriving for another week, Vidmar and his coaching staff should have the freedom to select a full-strength side.
There are still some intriguing decisions to make across the pitch. At centre-back, one of Germán Ferreyra, Samuel Souprayen and Harrison Delbridge will be unlucky to miss out, while further forward, there are plenty of options pushing for starting roles.
Max Caputo, Kavian Rahmani and Elbasan Rashani are among the players capable of coming into the XI, while Mazzeo’s dramatic late goal in the first leg has certainly strengthened his case as well. Another interesting tactical call could come around Nathaniel Atkinson, who impressed in a midfield role in the first leg, but may return to his more familiar position at right back.
A big test in Thailand
City will face a significant challenge when we take to the pitch at Buriram Stadium on Tuesday night, with a hostile atmosphere expected in front of a bumper home crowd.
Buriram United have been extremely strong on their home turf, winning seven of their last eight matches across all competitions at the venue. Their recent form overall has been impressive as well, arriving in the knockout tie on a strong run of results.
The conditions will also present their own challenge, with temperatures around the 30-degree mark and high humidity forecast for kick-off. Fortunately, those conditions are not too dissimilar to what the squad has experienced throughout much of the summer at home.
While it won’t count for much once the match begins, City can at least take some small confidence from our previous visit to the venue. Back in October 2023, we recorded a 2-0 victory in Buriram thanks to goals from Alessandro Lopane and Jamie Maclaren.
The stakes, however, are far greater this time around. With the aggregate score locked at 1-1 and a Quarter Final berth up for grabs, Tuesday night promises to be another memorable chapter in what has already been a historic continental campaign.
Fixture Details
AFC Champions League Elite: Round of 16 – Second Leg
Buriram United v Melbourne City FC
Tuesday 10 March, 11:15pm KO (AEDT)
Buriram Stadium
Watch live on Paramount+
