Melbourne City FC will be looking to continue its winning start to the season this Saturday night when it takes on Victory in the first Melbourne Derby of the season.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s men sit top of the table after the first two matches of the new campaign following convincing wins over Western United and Brisbane Roar.
Here’s what you should be keeping an eye out for when they look to extend the streak this Saturday night!
DESPERATE FOR A DERBY WIN
While there was some thrilling football played in last season’s Melbourne Derbies, after the joys of 2020/21, City fans would’ve been disappointed to see the team not beat its cross-town rivals.
Fans were left on the edge of their seats throughout both a 2-2 and 1-1 draw with the quality of football on the pitch matching the electric atmosphere in the stands.
While the final Derby of last season was a forgettable night, expect to see a fired-up City eager to get one up over its neighbours this Saturday night.
WHO FILLS THE MIDFIELD HOLE?
City will be without Taras Gomulka for this fixture after the midfielder was shown a straight red card last time out against Brisbane.
After an impressive start to the season, Gomulka’s absence leaves hole in midfield and the question immediately turns to who will be the man to replace him.
Marco Tilio and Richard van der Venne appear to be the most likely options to join Aiden O’Neill and Valon Berisha in the midfield.
Both options bring something different to the table with Tilio the more attacking of the pair, while van der Venne’s high energy and work rate sees him more suited to a central midfield role.
With a similar number of minutes played across the first two fixtures, all eyes will be on who gets the call-up when starting line-ups are released at 6:45pm on Saturday night.
HOW DOES THE DEFENCE LOOK?
One of the most impressive aspects to City’s start to the season is how sound it has looked defensively despite missing Curtis Good and Nuno Reis, Kisnorbo’s first choice centre-back duo in recent seasons.
Skipper Scott Jamieson has done an admirable job stepping in at the heart of defence, while new signing Thomas Lam has made an impressive start to his City career.
Good will be doing everything he can to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday night, although Reis remains sidelined.
Should Good be ready to go and included in the XI, Kisnorbo will likely be set to make a tough call at left-back with Jamieson and Jordan Bos fighting for the same spot.
Lam’s ability to play as a defensive midfielder also gives Kisnorbo something to think about, with a move to midfield a potential option for the Finnish international.
