MATCH DETAILS
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Brisbane Roar FC
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-Off: 8:00 PM (Local) (8:00 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Jarred Gillett
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 702 ABC Sydney & ABC Local Radio NSW, 666 ABC Canberra, 612 ABC Brisbane & ABC Local Radio Queensland, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WSWvBRI
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
SQUADS
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, 18. Andreu, 20.Andrew Redmayne (GK), 21. Jacob Pepper, 22. Jonathan Aspropotamitis, 33. Josh Macdonald
Unavailable: 2.Shannon COLE (Groin - 1 week), 10.Brendon SANTALAB (thigh - 2 weeks), 14.Gol Gol MEHBRATU (Hamstring – 2 weeks), 19.Mark BRIDGE (Groin - 1 week)
Brisbane Roar FC: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 5.Corey BROWN, 6.Jerome POLENZ, 7.CORONA, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 13.Jade NORTH (c), 14.Daniel BOWLES, 16.Devante CLUT, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Shannon BRADY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 32.George LAMBADARIDIS.
Unavailable: 3.Shane STEFANUTTO (calf - 4 weeks ), 10.HENRIQUE (knee - 2 months ), 11.Jean Carlos SOLOR ZANO (foot - 2 weeks), 15.James DONACHIE (quad - 3 weeks), 17.Matt McKAY (international duty – 1 week), 33.Luke DE VERE (quad - two months)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
It’s a new-look Wanderers outfit heading into the new season, with a Spanish flavour to coach Tony Popovic’s squad.
After a disappointing A-League campaign last season, the winds of change at ‘Wanderland’ have instilled an air of optimism for what may lay ahead this time around.
Roar is banking on new coach John Aloisi to restore the club back to their former glories and bring some stability back to the organisation.
Can Roar capitalize against notorious slow-starters Western Sydney or will the re-energised red and black usher in their new era with a win in front of their passionate home support?
OPTA DATA
· Wanderers have won only one of their last seven A-League games (inc. finals) against Brisbane Roar, losing four and drawing two.
· Brisbane didn’t keep a clean sheet in any of their last 10 A-League games in 2014-15 (inc. finals).
· WSW have never won their first game of an A-League season (D2 L1).
· Roar completed 82.1 percent of their passes in the 2014-15 A-League campaign; the highest proportion in the competition.
ROUTE TO GOAL
It’s in midfield where there’s plenty to get excited about. Spanish duo Delgado and Andreu add experience and class while Mitch Nichols will look to unlock opposition defences. Can they provide the supply for marquee striker Federico Piovaccari to be effective in front of goal?
Roar look a bit light in the middle of the park with skipper Matt McKay away on Socceroo duty while Luke Brattan has already having moved on. It will be interesting to see how new striker Jamie Maclaren fits in to the visitor’s attack, the club still looking to adequately find a consistent scorer since the exit of Besart Berisha more than a year ago.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Brisbane have signed a second Spanish midfielder, Javier Hervas Salmoral. Coach Aloisi’s Spanish link clearly paying off, though he's not in the squad for this game.
FORM LINES
It’s been a big pre-season for the Wanderers trying to integrate their new signings into the squad. Popovic has done that reasonably well and they look to have more threats all over the park.
Roar have also looked impressive in the build-up to the new season, banging in the goals in a number of matches. The two sides met in the Westfield FFA Cup with Wanderers running out 1-0 winners, giving the hosts a slight psychological advantage heading into this one.
PREDICTION
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2-1 Brisbane Roar