Melbourne Victory welcome Adelaide United to AAMI Park this weekend as the headline act as part of this year’s Pride Cup celebrations.
The Liberty A-League returns in superb fashion following the international break, with Sunday afternoon’s Pride Cup highlighting a hotly anticipated weekend of action.
Victory and Adelaide will contest a double-header alongside several events and activities throughout the day which celebrate LGBTI+ inclusion in sport.
The game has plenty of meaning in the context of the current season too, as Victory continue their mission to secure yet another top four finish.
Victory currently sit five points clear of their nearest challenger, Canberra United, heading into the current round.
However, the four closest teams in the chasing pack play against each other this weekend, meaning at least two are guaranteed to pick up points and potentially close the gap.
As such, a win is vital yet again for Jeff Hopkins’ side, as they take on an Adelaide team who have lost their previous three games.
The first of those three losses was against Victory in Adelaide, where second-half goals from Alex Chidiac and Kayla Morrison secured a come-from-behind win for the defending Champions.
However, Victory have since suffered a major blow, with the departure of Chidiac to return to her parent club Racing Louisville.
How Hopkins adapts to the loss of such a key player will be at the forefront of most onlookers’ minds this weekend.
Sunday’s game will be just the second time Victory have hosted the Reds in the previous seven meetings.
The last time the teams faced off in Melbourne was in the first round of last season, where Victory kicked off their ultimately successful Championship defence with a scintillating performance.
A huge day both on the pitch and off it, be sure to get down to AAMI Park this weekend to join in the celebrations.
Recent history against the Reds
Victory have a strong recent record against Adelaide, winning five of the previous six meetings.
2022/23, January 21: Adelaide 1-2 Victory
2021/22 EF, March 13: Adelaide 1-2 Victory
2021/22, February 26: Adelaide 3-0 Victory
2021/22, December 5: Victory 5-1 Adelaide
2020/21, January 29: Adelaide 0-1 Victory
Melbourne Victory Squad
1.Casey DUMONT, 2. Tiffany ELIADIS, 3.Claudia BUNGE, 5.Jessika NASH, 6.Beattie GOAD, 8.Alana MURPHY, 9.Catherine ZIMMERMAN, 11.Natalie TATHEM, 14.Melina AYRES, 15.Amy JACKSON, 16.Paige ZOIS, 17.Maja MARKOVSKI 18.Kayla MORRISON, 19.Lia PRIVITELLI, 20.Miranda TEMPLEMAN, 21.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 22.Ava BRIEDIS, 23.Emily KOS, 27.Rosie CURTIS
In: 22.Ava BRIEDIS (promoted), 23.Emily KOS (promoted), 27.Rosie CURTIS (promoted)
Out: 10.Alex CHIDIAC (loan period ended)
Unavailable: 7.Gema SIMON (injured)
Match Details
Liberty A-League Round 15
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United
Sunday 26 February
Kick-off: 5:55pm (AEDT)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
