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.
.@Benfolami9 is off the mark in #MVFC colours, combining with Jacob Butterfield for our second goal! #CRUvMEL #ACL2020 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/ZJV7f1tdV0
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) November 30, 2020
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.
HIGHLIGHTS | 🇰🇷 @FCSEOUL 5-0 @crutdofficial 🇹🇭
🎥 Seoul get back to winning ways with a dominant performance against Chiangrai United#FCSvCRU | #ACL2020 pic.twitter.com/lRocuhOJ61
— #ACLElite & #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) November 24, 2020
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
📊 Here’s how Group E is looking after last night’s games 👀
🤔 Who are you backing to join Beijing FC in the Round of 16?#ACL2020 pic.twitter.com/1ddmfuhlg2
— #ACLElite & #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) December 1, 2020
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