Hyundai A-League preview: Adelaide v Wanderers

There’s a real Spanish flavour to this one. Both failed to fire in Round 1 of the new Hyundai A-League season last week, so expect a response on Friday night.

MATCH DETAILS

Friday, 16 October 2015

Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers FC

Coopers Stadium, Adelaide

Kick-Off: 7:10 PM (Local) (7:40 PM (AEDT))

Referee: Chris Beath

Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream

Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo

Fourth Official: Daniel Elder

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT), SBS TWO from 7:30pm AEDT and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)

Radio Broadcast: 891 ABC Adelaide & ABC Local Radio South Australia, 702 ABC Sydney & ABC Local Radio NSW, 666 ABC Canberra, Grandstand Digital,  Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Crocmedia A-League Live (www.facebook.com/ALeagueLIVERadio). 5RTI (Adelaide)

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvWSW

Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.PABLO SANCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA (c), 12.Mark OCHIENG, 14.George MELLS, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Mate DUGANDZIC, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 19.Eli BABALJ, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 30.John SOLARI (gk)

**One to be omitted**

Ins: 21.Tarek ELRICH (returns from international duty)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (knee – 6 weeks), 4.Iacopo LA ROCCA (foot – 4 weeks ), 11.Bruce DJITE (groin – 3 weeks), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee – 2 weeks), 24.Bruce KAMAU (hip – 2 weeks)

Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (GK), 3.Scott JAMIESON, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (c), 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 7.Romeo CASTELEN, 8.DIMAS, 9.Federico PIOVACCARI, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 17.ALBERTO, 18.ANDREU, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 21.Jacob PEPPER, 22.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 33.Josh MACDONALD

**Two to be omitted**

Ins: 15.Kearyn BACCUS (promoted), 17.ALBERTO (promoted)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 2.Shannon COLE (groin – 1 week), 10.Brendon SANTALAB (thigh – 2 weeks), 14.Gol Gol MEHBRATU (hamstring – 2 weeks)

BLUFFER’S GUIDE

Guillermo Amor’s Reds showed real resilience to fight out a draw with champions Melbourne Victory last week but will expect more in the more familiar surrounds of Hindmarsh.

No doubt new signings Eli Babalj and Mate Dugandzic will be better for the run last week, while the return of Socceroos Tarek Elrich adds more experience to the defence.

But the Reds were dealt a blow this week with skipper Eugene Galekovic ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury, meaning youngster John Hall will get an extended run in the side.

The Wanderers showed some promising signs going forward against Roar last week but were punished for some shocking defensive errors. You can be sure Tony Popovic would have been working overtime this week to ensure there’s no repeat in the City of Churches.

OPTA DATA

• Adelaide has only lost once in their last nine Hyundai A-League home matches including Finals (W5 D3), scoring 22 goals.
• In the past six Hyundai A-League matches featuring the Reds, five red cards have been shown, three coming the way of the opposition.
• The Wanderers have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 14 Hyundai A-League matches; their longest ever run without conceding before this was five games.
• WSW has scored three goals in their last five matches against Adelaide after scoring 12 in the previous three.

ROUTE TO GOAL

For the home side, Babalj will hope to offer a bit more at the point of attack than he did against Victory last week. While the service wasn’t great, the 23-year-old needs to make the most of his opportunities, especially as Bruce Djite edges closer to full fitness.

But the Reds’ goal-scoring threat is likely to come via the classy boots of Argentine ace Marcelo Carrusca or Spanish whiz Sergio Cirio, who both have the tools to unlock the visitors defence and cause problems.

The Wanderers produced some eye-catching football going forward against Roar but were too often let down by taking the wrong option or poor execution in the final third.

Former Red Vidosic could be that missing ingredient to supply the polish to his side’s promising attack. How will the 28-year-old fare on his first trip back to Adelaide since leaving two years ago?

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

Eugene Galekovic ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury. A big blow for the Reds.

FORM LINES

The Reds opened the season with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against fierce rivals Melbourne Victory, despite not being anywhere near their fluent best.

It was a horror start for the new-look Wanderers, going down 3-1 to Brisbane Roar to quell the expectation that had been growing after an encouraging pre-season campaign.

In this fixture, Adelaide has beaten the Wanderers in four of the last five encounters at Coopers (losing one), keeping a clean sheet on three of those occasions. 

PREDICTION 

Adelaide United 2-2 Western Sydney Wanderers