Preview: Round 18 v Sydney FC

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Melbourne Victory is eyeing a third straight win as it prepares to host Sydney FC in an Australia Day blockbuster at AAMI Park.

Summary

After edging past Perth Glory, Victory recorded a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers.

That marked a second straight win for Victory, which is unbeaten in six of its past seven matches.

Tickets for the Australia Day blockbuster available here

A brace from Kosta Barbarouses and a Besart Berisha goal helped Victory past the Wanderers.

Barbarouses has scored six goals in his past seven games, joining Berisha on seven strikes for the campaign.

Leroy George provided another assist in Sydney, taking his tally to 11 in 17 games this season.

With the win, Victory pushed four points clear of fifth, while it is three adrift of third and seven behind the second-placed Newcastle Jets.

Victory is set to regain James Troisi, who missed the Wanderers clash through suspension.

Sydney sits top of the table and is unbeaten in its past 11 Hyundai A-League games.

Player in focus

What they said

“We need to keep doing what we’ve been doing the last few weeks. We’ve had a few good results since the New Year. We’ve dropped a few points that would’ve come in handy, but I think the last two or three weeks we’ve really stuck to our structures and focused more on ourselves and what we’re good at and I think if we can continue to do that over the next couple of weeks, that’ll put us in good stead heading into finals.” – Victory goalkeeper Matt Acton.

Last time

Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Round 1
Melbourne Victory 0-1 Sydney FC
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne

An undermanned Victory was edged by Sydney FC when the teams met in the opening round.

A Thomas Deng own goal in the second half was all that separated the sides.

Head to head

Round 1, 2017/18: Victory 0-1 Sydney at Etihad Stadium
Grand Final, 2016/17: Sydney 1-1 Victory (4-2 pens) at Allianz Stadium
Round 22, 2016/17: Sydney 1-0 Victory at Allianz Stadium
Round 17, 2016/17: Victory 1-2 Sydney at Etihad Stadium
Round 5, 2016/17: Sydney 2-1 Victory at Allianz Stadium