ALM PREVIEW: City v Adelaide

Melbourne City has our sights set on securing a home Isuzu UTE A-League Elimination Final, with just one game remaining in the regular season.

Adelaide United will make the trip to AAMI Park with plenty on the line themselves, as both sides look to close out the regular season on a high in Sunday evening’s decisive clash.

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Here’s everything you need to know.

Home Final there for the taking

While just a few weeks ago our Finals hopes were hanging in the balance, a blistering run of late-season form has seen us not only secure a spot in the top six, but also give ourselves a chance to host a home final.

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The equation is simple – a win on Sunday will see us hosting an Elimination Final at AAMI Park next week, while anything less would likely mean hitting the road to keep our season alive.

With our fixture on Sunday being the final game of the regular season, we’ll enter the contest knowing exactly what’s at stake, with ladder positions and Week 1 Finals opponents to be decided across the 90 minutes.

Confidence will be high following five wins from our last six matches, including four in a row and three straight at home. Most recently, we showed plenty of resilience on the road in Brisbane, coming from behind to secure a 3-2 win thanks to a Marcus Younis double and a well-worked late goal finished by Medin Memeti.

Selection mix

Our squad continues to be strengthened at the right time of the season, with Takeshi Kanamori named in the extended squad as he edges closer to a return from injury.

While Aurelio Vidmar indicated pre-match that the bench was yet to be finalised and there is no certainty Kanamori will feature, his inclusion in the extended squad at a minimum is a positive sign as we approach Finals.

It adds to an already dangerous attacking group, with Marcus Younis, Andreas Kuen and Elbasan Rashani all hitting strong form in recent weeks.

There is also increasing competition for places, with the likes of Memeti, Mathew Leckie and Max Caputo all making strong impacts off the bench in recent matches.

With the benefit of a full week between games – a rarity this season – major changes to the starting XI appear unlikely, but there are plenty of options available to ensure the right balance for a crucial encounter.

Two runs collide

While we’ve been one of the form sides of the competition in recent weeks, Adelaide have also been in strong touch, entering the clash unbeaten in their last nine matches.

Although that run includes a number of draws, it highlights their consistency and resilience, with the Reds proving difficult to break down while also boasting one of the most potent attacks in the league.

There is also plenty on the line for the visitors, who could finish anywhere between second and sixth depending on results across the round.

Our only previous meeting this season came at Coopers Stadium, where despite a stunning long-range strike from Takeshi Kanamori, we fell to defeat.

Form at AAMI Park has been far more favourable in recent years, with just one loss to Adelaide at home across the past decade. However, that record will count for little when the whistle blows on Sunday, with both sides desperate to secure a strong Finals position.

With so much at stake, it shapes as a fascinating contest and the perfect way to close out the regular season.