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Third and fourth on the A-League Men’s ladder clash to kick off the new year when the Western Sydney Wanderers host Macarthur FC at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm (AEDT).
Despite patchy form and just eight goals for the season thus far, Western Sydney remain entrenched in the top six and with a chance to go second with a win against the Bulls this afternoon.
The visitors could do the same with three points, a scenario that sets up the most intriguing of match-ups in what are perfect conditions for football.
The Wanderers have not tasted victory in the league since November 12, grabbing points against Brisbane and Wellington while losing to Western United in Round 8. Goals have proven hard to come by and coach Marko Rudan knows his team must improve in that department if it is to hang around in the top six for an extended period of time.
Macarthur has seen its season take off since the World Cup break. Wins against Sydney FC and Perth have propelled them inside the top six and they now loom as a real threat with Ulises Davila fit and firing and Craig Noone and Daniel De Silva playing important roles in their attacking shape.
A somewhat leaky defence will be an area of focus for coach Dwight Yorke, yet the Bulls have the weapons to put any side to the sword on their day and the Wanderers’ defence will be tested on the first day of 2023.
The team news is significant heading into this clash, with the Wanderers welcoming back Milos Ninkovic and Kusini Yengi in huge inclusions for the home side. The Bulls lose De Silva, as he joins a concerning injury list that also includes Aleksander Susnjar and Lachlan Rose.
Those outs place immense pressure on the remaining attacking Bulls, yet with names like Davila, Daniel Arzani, Bachana Arabuli and Al Hassan Toure at his disposal, the manager does have an embarrassment of riches.
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Prediction
The unavailable players will weaken the Bulls, yet the bench still looks strong and despite the home-field advantage in favour of Western Sydney, Macarthur will move into second on the ladder with a strong performance this afternoon.
Filip KURTO (gk), Jake McGING, Tomi USKOK, Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, Ivan VUJICA, Kearyn BACCUS, Ulises DAVILA, Daniel ARZANI, Al Hassan TOURE, Nick SUMAN (gk), Matt MILLAR, Charles M’MOMBWA, Jake HOLLMAN, Anthony CARTER, Jed DREW, Craig NOONE, Jerry SKOTADIS, Bachana ARABULI
