Melbourne Victory is aiming to extend its unbeaten run in the A-League to three games when it visits Brisbane Roar on Saturday.
Summary
Victory played three games in eight days, recording a 2-1 win over Perth Glory and drawing with Western United after its loss in Adelaide.
It makes the trip to Queensland to face the Roar for the second time this season.
Brandon Lauton, 20, and Birkan Kirdar, 18, went closest for Victory against Western, with the former hitting the post in the first half.
Victory was without Rudy Gestede (hamstring), Callum McManaman (ankle) and Robbie Kruse (managed) for the clash against Western.
Ben Folami returned to the squad and Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio started, while goalkeeper Max Crocombe and defenders Storm Roux, Ryan Shotton, Dylan Ryan and Adama Traore helped Victory keep its first clean sheet of the season.
Traore continued his impressive start to the season, looking dangerous down the left, having assisted one of Jake Brimmer’s two goals in the win over Perth.
Victory has lost its previous two meetings with the Roar, but it has won its past four A-League games away to Brisbane.
Player in focus
Last time
A-League 2020/21
Melbourne Victory 1-3 Brisbane Roar
Saturday, January 2, 2021
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Victory fell behind to a Scott McDonald goal, but drew level through a brilliant strike from McManaman.
But a tiring Victory was beaten after second-half goals from Macaulay Gillesphey and Dylan Wenzel-Halls.
As it stands
Head to head
Round 2, 2020/21: Victory 1-3 Roar at AAMI Park
Round 24, 2019/20: Victory 1-2 Roar at Bankwest Stadium
Round 3, 2019/20: Roar 0-1 Victory at Suncorp Stadium
Round 22, 2018/19: Victory 2-1 Roar at Marvel Stadium
Round 15, 2018/19: Roar 0-5 Victory at Suncorp Stadium
Match details
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Adama TRAORE, 5.Ryan SHOTTON, 6.Leigh BROXHAM (c), 7.Callum McMANAMAN, 8.Jacob BUTTERFIELD, 10.Robbie KRUSE, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 14.Jay BARNETT, 15.Aaron ANDERSON, 16.Brandon LAUTON, 17.Elvis KAMSOBA, 19.Dylan RYAN, 20.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 22.Jacob BRIMMER, 23.Marco ROJAS, 25.Luis LAWRIE-LATTANZIO
**0-2 to be omitted**
Ins: 7.Callum McMANAMAN (return from injury), 10.Robbie KRUSE (promoted)
Outs: 11.Ben FOLAMI (not selected), 35.Zaydan BELLO (not selected)
Unavailable: 4.Nick ANSELL (injured – hamstring), 9.Rudy GESTEDE (injured – hamstring), 32.So NISHIKAWA (injured – shoulder)
