The Sydney FC men’s season resumes this weekend with a clash between two of the most successful clubs in Australian football in recent times. There is talent across the park with four Socceroos in the ranks of the two clubs as Andrew Redmayne’s Sydney FC do battle with Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Marco Tilio’s Melbourne City.
This Saturday night blockbuster will be a feast for football fans as the noise and passion of the Socceroos live site’s makes it way to Allianz Stadium in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
For Sydney FC, this is a brilliant opportunity to kick on for the rest of the season as they find themselves currently in sixth spot on the table. They are a force going forward and continue to dominate the attacking stats across the league and hold the top two positions for passes in the opposition half (Luke Brattan and Diego Caballo), lead the league in shots and also total passes. In their most recent match, Sydney FC played against Scottish powerhouse Celtic and swept them aside 2-1 in a statement victory which drew attention from around the world.
Steve Corica will be hoping for more of the same against league leaders City on Saturday evening as they look to overturn a tough patch against the fellow Sky Blue outfit with the Victorians winning each of the last three meetings. Sydney FC will be buoyed by the return of Adam Le Fondre to the side following his spell on the sidelines which adds depth to the squad ahead of this clash.
Melbourne City are yet to lose a match this season and sit at the top of the table on 16 points. Their only slip up came at the hands of Wellington Phoenix at home when they led 2-0 at half time and were pegged back to only receive a point. Of advantage to Sydney FC will be the departure of City’s Head Coach, Patrick Kisnorbo to Troyes in French Ligue 1. Rado Vidosic, former A-League Women’s coach has stepped into the Head Coach role in the interim and will be looking to impress in his first game in charge.
In recent matches, these two sides have been free-scoring with an average of 2.69 goals scored per 90 minutes and we can expect similar on Saturday evening with both teams littered with talent. City are bolstered by the return of their three Socceroos representatives, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Marco Tilio and all three of them will be looking to continue their World Cup form into the league. Jamie McLaren has scored in the previous six Isuzu UTE A-League matches and if he scores this weekend will equal Marc Janko’s record of 7 in 2015. Only Andy Keogh of Perth Glory has scored more consecutively with 8.
This Saturday night show-down is sure to be a cracking affair between two attacking sides with each of them wanting to get up and running with the re-started season as quick as possible.
Sydney FC will be wearing their Under Armour ‘Sydney Sunsets’ Third Kit for this clash. More Here.
Ones to Watch
Andrew Redmayne – Sydney FC
The Sydney FC shot-stopper has found a home with the Sky Blues and flourished in the Harbour City. It was through Sydney FC that he made his Socceroos debut in 2019 and famously saved the decisive penalty which sent Australia to the World Cup. Having spent time at Melbourne City across three seasons, Redmayne has great respect for the Melbourne club but that doesn’t mean he won’t want to win any less. So far this season, City warrant the highest shooting accuracy across the league so he will be hoping to have another key performance against them.
Having already made 18 saves in the opening six matches, Andrew Redmayne will be aiming to continue his good run of form and hit the ground running as the season re-starts following the FIFA World Cup Break.
Mathew Leckie – Melbourne City
Mathew Leckie of Melbourne City wrote his name into the history books of Australian football after he scored the decisive goal which sent Australia through to the Round of 16 of football’s biggest tournament. He returns to Australian shores having scored and assisted one this season for his club. He made his A-League debut for Adelaide United in 2009 before moving to Geremany where he jumped around a few clubs in the Bundesliga across a ten year spell. The winger is lightning quick and always poses a threat moving forward.
In the previous meeting between Sydney and City in NSW, he found the net with a stoppage time winner last year and if his side want to get anything out of this match, he will be one to watch.
Match Details
Sydney FC v Melbourne City FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round Seven
Saturday 10th December 2022
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
7:45pm AEDT Kick Off
4:45pm AEDT Gates Open
Tickets: Click Here
Broadcast Live: Paramount+ & Network Ten
