Brisbane Roar are back at home facing Melbourne City in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 7 action at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Roar look to kick start their season with three points in what is just their second home match of the 2024/25 campaign against Melbourne City, who start the weekend in fifth position on the A-League ladder.
Ruben Zadkovich’s side come into Friday’s match off the back of a rollercoaster 4-4 draw against Macarthur at Campbelltown Stadium in their most recent outing.
Thomas Waddingham scored a first half brace in Saturday’s draw, taking him to ten A-League career goals – the second-most of any teenager in the competition’s history behind Nestory Irankunda (16).
The home side fought back to lead twice in the second stanza before Roar rescued a point courtesy of a Tomislav Uskok own goal in second half stoppage time.
Waddingham’s only other A-League double came in a 5-1 rout of Melbourne City when the sides last met at Suncorp Stadium in February.
Saturday’s match also saw Scott Neville return from a ruptured anterior ligament and play 65 minutes in the heart of defence in what was his first game in 312 days.
Melbourne City also look to return to the winner’s circle in Friday’s match after slumping to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend.
Friday’s match kicks off at 6:35pm at Suncorp Stadium and will be broadcast live on Paramount+. Get your tickets HERE
WHAT WAS SAID
TEAM NEWS
Ecuadorian attacker, Neicer Acosta is in the mix for minutes after being missing since round one with a leg injury.
Scott Neville also looks set to play his first match back at Suncorp Stadium since December 1, 2023 after returning from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in last weekend’s draw with Macarthur.
Melbourne City will be without key attacking trio, Mathew Leckie, Marco Tilio & Andrew Nabbout who all miss the trip to Brisbane through injury.
Amongst those set to line up for City on Friday is former Roar defender, Kai Trewin who will face his former club for the first time since making the off-season switch from Brisbane to Melbourne.
LAST TIME WE MET
Roar ran out resounding 5-1 winners at Suncorp Stadium in February, in the most recent meeting between the two sides.
Kai Trewin opened the scoring before Thomas Waddingham bagged his first two goals at Suncorp Stadium, Keegan Jelacic also opened his goalscoring account at home.
Jay O’Shea was also amongst the goals with a stunning strike as Roar recorded their biggest win of the 2023/24 season.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 41
Brisbane Roar wins: 13
Melbourne City wins: 21
Draws: 7
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 7: Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Friday, 6 December (6:35pm KO)
TICKETS
