Sydney FC may be runaway leaders in the Hyundai A-League this season but they face the only side they have yet to beat in 2019/20 when they host local rivals Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.
The Sky Blues only blemish so far this campaign came in the first Sydney Derby back in Round 3 and it’s a result that is sure to still be stinging Steve Corica’s troops.
Both clubs have ensured contrasting fortunes since then, with the Sky Blues going on to win 11 of their next 12 games (with one draw), including last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Brisbane Roar.
That result, courtesy of Adam Le Fondre’s penalty, has seen the Sky Blues open up a 13-point lead at the top of the ladder.
The Wanderers have work to do if they are to play finals football, with Sunday’s 3-1 win over Central Coast Mariners just their second victory in their last 12 games.
While there were some encouraging signs under interim boss John Paul de Marigny – including a debut goal for new recruit Simon Cox – they will need to go to another level to topple the Sky Blues.
Sydney FC are unbeaten in their last eight home derbies against the Wanderers and it should be a sellout crowd at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Saturday, 8 February 2020
Kick-off: 5pm AEDT
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Broadcast: ABC Me, FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports, ABC iView
HOW TO WATCH: All the action in Round 18
ROUND 17: Who made the Team of the Week?
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Team news
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Adam LE FONDRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 20. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE, 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Marco TILIO, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Jordi SWIBEL, 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF, 29. Anton MLINARIC. **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 24.Marco TILIO (promoted), 27.Jordi SWIBEL (promoted), 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF (promoted), 29. Anton MLINARIC (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Ben WARLAND (ACL), 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN (suspended – 1 matches), 7. Michael ZULLO (calf), 19.Chris ZUVELA (knee)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Daniel LOPAR (GK), 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6.Matthew JURMAN, 7.Mitchell DUKE, 8.Jordan O’DOHERTY, 9.Nicolai MULLER, 10.Simon COX, 11.Bruce KAMAU, 13.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 17.Keanu BACCUS, 19.Pirmin SCHWEGLER, 22.Nicholas SULLIVAN, 23.Kosta GROZOS, 27.Kwame YEBOAH, 31.Noah PAGDEN, 33.Tate RUSSELL, 34.Patrick ZIEGLER, 35.Mo ADAM, 40.Nicholas SUMAN (GK)
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 8.Jordan O’DOHERTY (promoted), 31.Noah PAGDEN (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (shoulder), 29.Daniel WILMERING (knee)
Did you know?
- Western Sydney Wanderers beat Sydney FC 1-0 in the most recent derby. The last and only time they managed back-to-back derby wins came in the 2013/14 Season.
- Both Sydney FC and the Wanderers have scored six goals in the 76th minute or later of matches this season. No other side in the Hyundai A-League has managed more.
- Sky Blues attacker Kosta Barbarouses has scored seven goals and had five assists this season. He’s the only player to have five or more in both categories.
- The Wanderers have won two of their last three away games in the Hyundai A-League. That’s more than they managed in their previous eight (one win).
