Our Hyundai A-League side will be looking to finish 2018 on a positive note this Saturday night when we take on Sydney FC at Jubilee Stadium (6:50pm KO QLD time).
The Roar will be looking to replicate their last trip south to face Sydney FC and claim a big scalp in the third-placed Sky Blues.
Winger Eric Bautheac believes that given his side will use the belief harvested from that clash back in March — a 2-1 win for the Roar — to get their season rolling tomorrow night.
“I remember last season in Sydney, it was a similar period of difficulty for us and that game — it clicked for us,” Bautheac said.
“We remember this game last season, perhaps our best away game and Saturday will hopefully be a turning point.
“In this team, if we are in full confidence, I am sure we can play very well and I believe we have a better team than last season.”
Saturday night’s contest marks the first meeting of the season between these two sides.
Sydney FC, who have won two games on the trot, certainly won’t be pushovers for the talented Roar squad.
The Roar will also take note of Sydney’s record at Jubilee Stadium, where they are yet to win this season and suffered a 3-1 defeat in their last outing at the venue against the Phoenix earlier this month.
With all teams gearing up for the busy New Year period, Bautheac says the Roar will relish this opportunity to play and move forward.
“When you play football, you want to play all the time,” Bautheac said.
“It’s a good period for us to win points and fight together. We have a good team and good mentality.”
The Frenchman has been in dangerous form in the front third this season and insists that the Roar are only one big win away from starting their march up the Hyundai A-League ladder.
“The season is long,” Bautheac added.
“If we win this weekend and play better, I am sure we can finish this season similar to last season.”
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 – Round 10: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Saturday, 29 December (6:50pm KO QLD time)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Aaron CALVER, 4.Alex WILKINSON, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Daniel DE SILVA, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 18.Jacob TRATT, 20.Alex CISAK (gk), 21.Charles LOKOLI-NGOY, 22.Siem DE JONG, 24.Cam DEVLIN, 25. Joel KING, 31.Luke IVANOVIC **two to be omitted**
Ins: 21.Charles LOKOLI-NGOY (promoted), 24.Cam DEVLIN (promoted), 25. Joel KING (promoted)
Outs: 23. Rhyan GRANT (International Duty)
Unavailable: 3.Ben WARLAND (foot – 2 weeks), 5.Jop van der LINDEN (hamstring – 3 weeks), 12.Trent BUHAGIAR (ACL – indefinite), 19.Chris ZUVELA (knee – indefinite)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Brendan WHITE (gk), 2.Dane INGHAM, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Adam TAGGART, 11.Eric BAUTHEAC, 13.Stefan MAUK, 14.Alex LOPEZ, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 18.Joe CALETTI, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Tobias MIKKELSEN, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 33.HENRIQUE, 36.Daniel LECK
Ins: 11.Eric BAUTHEAC (returns from suspension), 13.Stefan MAUK (promoted), 18.Joe CALETTI (promoted), 24.Connor O’TOOLE (promoted), 36.Daniel LECK (promoted)
Outs: 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN (not selected), 20.Shannon BRADY (not selected), 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS (not selected)
Unavailable: 10.Brett HOLMAN (knee)
Referee: Alex King
Assistant Referee 1: Lance Greenshields
Assistant Referee 2: Andrej Giev
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
VAR: Craig Zetter
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