Match Details
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
Date: Sat 9 Mar
Time: 8:15pm (AEDT)
Location: Coopers Stadium
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Preview
Tony Popovic’s side will be looking to return to form after having lost three of their last five, only winning one match in that stretch.
“These games are always special, and I don’t believe any motivation will be a problem. But, you know, we’ve got to get back to that aggression and that intensity that we had and bring that next week,” Popovic said.
Our boys in blue are yet to lose to The Reds this season after a 1-1 draw and then a 2-0 win at home.
United are currently on a six-match winless stretch, having lost their last three.
Speaking to the media, Popovic said these rivalry matches are always “unique”.
“These unique games, regardless of position on the table, they’re special matches, and it’s always high intensity, high aggression, high passion,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to that. And, you know, we need to get the performances back. Going back a couple of weeks ago, we had a very good performance against Melbourne City and a very good performance against Western United.
“We’re not a bad team two games later, but we had a bad performance. So we have to accept that and we’ve got to move forward quickly.
“We have to respect the fact that they (Adelaide) are very dangerous. It’s a game that they feel like they have to win. And they’ll come really hard at us.
“So we have to get back to having that solid base where we’ve defended very well as a team. We’ve got to add to the nice goals that we scored in the weekend and get some more fluency in the front third, and we can build on at least that aspect of our game from Brisbane.”
When asked about the return of captain Roderick Miranda, Popovic said the defender will come straight into the starting xi.
However, midfielder Ryan Teague will miss the Original Rivalry clash after picking up a leg injury during the second half of last weekend’s match against Brisbane.
“He’s got a bit of a hip complaint, something that has been ongoing for quite some time for him,” the Boss explained.
“Just one of those injuries that’s been hanging around and it’s flared up a little. We don’t anticipate it being a long-term injury. But at the moment, he’s struggling with it and he’ll miss this game.”
From Tony
The Stats
Last Time
Squad
2.Jason GERIA, 3.Adama TRAORE, 5.Damien DA SILVA, 7.Chris IKONOMIDIS, 8.Zinedine MACHACH, 10.Bruno FORNAROLI, 11.Ben FOLAMI, 14.Connor CHAPMAN, 16.Stefan NIGRO, 17.Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18.Fabian MONGE, 19.Daniel ARZANI, 20.Paul IZZO, 21.Roderick MIRANDA, 22.Jake BRIMMER, 23.Salim KHELIFI, 27.Jordi VALADON, 28.Roly BONEVACIA, 37.Kasey BOS, 40.Christian SICILIANO
In’s: 21.Roderick MIRANDA, 27.Jordi VALADON
Out: 25.Ryan TEAGUE
Unavailable: nil
