MATCH DETAILS
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, 14 November 2015
Kick-Off: 7:30 PM (Local) (7:30 PM AEDT)
SQUADS
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Rob STAMBOLZIEV (promoted), 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC (return from injury), 12.Jacob TRATT (promoted)
Outs: 7.Andrew HOOLE (international duty)
Unavailable: 11.Christopher NAUMOFF (international duty), 22.Ali ABBAS (knee – indefinite)
**One to be omitted**
Ins: 16.Dylan MURNANE (promoted), 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS (promoted), 31.Kieran DOVER (promoted), 32.Stefan NIGRO (promoted)
Outs: 2.Jason GERIA (international duty), 11.Connor PAIN (international duty), 21.Carl VALERI (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 3.Scott GALLOWAY (international duty), 4.Nick ANSELL (injured), 10.Archie THOMPSON (injured), 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO (international duty)
Hashtag #BigBlue
BROADCAST DETAILS
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-League Live
Referee - Chris Beath
BLUFFER'S GUIDE
Sydney FC will be desperate to keep their unbeaten record intact when they welcome reigning champions Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
Graham Arnold's men have conceded a miserly two goals this season but haven't beaten the Big V in their last six encounters – headlined by last season's grand final smashing.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold but the Sky Blues will need to be red-hot to beat a Victory side brimming with confidence.
After an inauspicious start to their title defence, Kevin Muscat's men got things back on track with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Wellington Phoenix in their last league outing before lifting the FFA Cup last week.
Victory will be missing suspended skipper Carl Valeri and four of their Olyroos but hope to have Kosta Barbarouses available following All Whites duty in Oman.
OPTA DATA KEY STATS
Sydney are unbeaten in their last four home A-League matches against Victory (W1 D3).
In contrast, Victory are unbeaten in their last six A-League meetings with Sydney (W2 D4) – with both wins coming in the finals.
Sydney have kept more clean sheets than any other A-League side this season (3) and are the only unbeaten team.
Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha has scored 11 goals in his last 13 games (incl. finals and FFA Cup).
ROUTE TO GOAL
The first goal on Saturday night will be monumental in deciding how this one plays out.
Marquee striker Filip Holosko has failed to add to his lone goal scored on the opening weekend and will be desperate to prove his worth in a Big Blue.
Conversely Victory's marquee talisman Besart Berisha can't stop scoring at the moment.
Despite Melbourne's outs there's no shortage of firepower at Muscat's disposal with Oliver Bozanic, Barbarouses and Fahid Ben Khalfallah all finding the back of the net this season.
The sides couldn't be separated during the regular season in 2014/15, with the three draws including two 3-3 results.
WHO'S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Victory legend Archie Thompson. The talisman may not be playing in this Big Blue, but according to teammate Leigh Broxham, the striker could be back soon to torment A-League defences.
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