Preview: Victory v FC Seoul

Callum McManaman

Melbourne Victory will progress into the next round of the AFC Champions League if it beats six-time K League champion FC Seoul on Thursday night (12am Friday) in Qatar.

Summary

The winner of Melbourne v Seoul will finish second in Group E and face Ulsan Hyundai in the knock-out stages, while a draw would favour the South Korean side.

Victory played out a 2-2 draw against Chiangrai United on Monday night – keeping its progression hopes alive by avoiding defeat.

Grant Brebner earned his first point since being appointed Victory’s permanent Head Coach, as Ben Folami and Jake Brimmer opened their accounts for the club.

Melbourne’s hopes will be aided by the return of Adama Traore, who missed Victory’s fifth game of the competition through suspension.

The opposition

FC Seoul has picked up one win since arriving in Qatar – a convincing 5-0 triumph over Chiangrai.

However, the race for second place opened up when the K League 1 side suffered a shock defeat against Chiangrai in the reverse fixture.

Yun Ju-tae is considered to be Seoul’s biggest threat, averaging a goal every 58 minutes since the restart.

Head-to-head

Veteran Park Chu-young has scored three of Seoul’s nine Champions League goals in 2020, including the winner against Victory back in February.

ACL Group Stage 2020: FC Seoul 1 – 0 Victory at the Seoul World Cup Stadium

As it stands

 

Match details

Melbourne Victory v FC Seoul
Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Friday, December 4, 2020
Kick-off: 00:00 AEDT
Broadcast: Fox Sports and Kayo Sport

Melbourne Victory squad: Matthew ACTON (gk), Aaron ANDERSON, Nick ANSELL, Jay BARNETT, Marko BULIC (gk), Jacob BUTTERFIELD, Jacob BRIMMER, Leigh BROXHAM, Max CROCOMBE (gk), Ben FOLAMI, Gianluca IANNUCCI, Elvis KAMSOBA, Birkan KIRDAR, Brandon LAUTON, Luis LAWRIE- LATTANZIO, So NISHIKAWA, Callum MCMANAMAN, Marco ROJAS, Storm ROUX, Dylan RYAN, Adama TRAORE, Joshua VARGA

Unavailable: Robbie KRUSE (knee), Rudy Gestede


2020/21 membership banner