Melbourne City FC will be desperate to pick up an all-important three points when it faces BG Pathum United on Wednesday night.
Just two games remain in the Group Stage of the Club’s first ever ACL campaign, and our destiny is still in our own hands.
You can watch City in action on Wednesday night live on 10play or Paramount+, with this clash kicking off at 9:00pm (AEST).
Like BG Pathum, City enter this fixture undefeated, although its two points adrift of the Thai Champions following Sunday night’s draw to Jeonnam Dragons.
A top of the group table finish secures automatic qualification to the Round of 16, while the three best placed teams in the East region will also make it through to the knockouts.
Nobody at City – players, coaches and fans alike – will be eager to play that second-place waiting game, so expect absolutely everything to be thrown into Wednesday night’s fixture.
After missing the team’s last match due to suspension, City is set to welcome Marco Tilio back into the fold, which will be a big boost in attack as the team has struggled to create chances at times this campaign.
Fans will also be hoping Wednesday night could mark a return for Mathew Leckie, with the winger not appearing in a Matchday squad since picking up a groin niggle in the opening Group G fixture.
City’s opponents, BG Pathum, will be coming into this clash with plenty of confidence off the back of 5-0 and 3-1 wins over United City in its last two fixtures. The Thai side have not only scored the most goals of any team in the group, but they’ve also conceded the least, having won every match since that first fixture that ended in a 1-1 draw against City.
Andrew Nabbout opened scoring in the first half with City’s first ACL goal, unleashing a rocket from outside the box that left the goalkeeper with no chance. The lead was short lived for City with the hosts equalising just ten minutes later, with neither side able to find the back of the net in a hard-fought second half.
More recently, City was held to a frustrating draw against Jeonnam Dragons, so expect there to be a big response from Kisnorbo’s squad come Wednesday night.
Match Details
AFC Champions League Group Stage: Matchday 5
Melbourne City FC v BG Pathum United
Wednesday 27 April, 9:00pm kick-off (AEST)
Pathum Thani Stadium
Live on 10play/Paramount+
