Western United will head into its first Melbourne derby fixture of the season, doing battle with Melbourne City on Monday night. Read the Match Preview, presented by Red Bull Australia.
Match Details
2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 3
Western United vs Melbourne City
Monday, 4 November
Kick-off: 7:00pm AEDT
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Paramount+
Western United Team News
John Aloisi has named his 20-man extended squad for the clash as United chases a first win of the season.
After featuring on the bench last week, Kane Vidmar is in contention to be involved again while Jordan Lauton and Luke Vickery return to the extended list.
James Donachie will miss again with a calf issue, while Ben Garuccio and Ramy Najjarine remain unavailable but are nearing their respective returns.
Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 5. Oliver LAVALE, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 37. Luke VICKERY, 44. Jordan LAUTON, 77. Riku DANZAKI
Previous Meetings
Western United has had a long list of famous battles in an ever-growing local derby against Melbourne City.
The biggest of those meetings came in May 2022 when United beat City 2-0 to win the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final.
That is one of five wins the Green and Black has secured over City in the past, four of which have come since Aloisi took charge in 2021.
Key Matchup: Hiroshi Ibusuki vs Samuel Souprayen
Continuing to build his connection with his new teammates, Hiroshi Ibusuki has fit perfectly into Western United’s system and will be eager to impose his will in his first taste of a Victorian derby.
The Japanese striker scored his first league goal for the Green and Black last week and will be eager to carry the momentum from that performance into Monday night.
Ibusuki also scored against City in pre-season so will be eager for a repeat of that display, coming up against Samuel Souprayen in City’s backline.
Bound to be an extremely physical battle with both players excelling aerially, Ibusuki vs Souprayen will be one to keep an eye on.
Western United Player to Watch: Matthew Grimaldi
Picking up right where he left off in his breakout campaign last term, Matthew Grimaldi has started this season brilliantly for Western United.
The 20-year-old was man of the match against the Wanderers last time out, setting up Ibusuki’s goal and tormenting the Western Sydney defence with every chance he got.
His trickery, dynamism and ambition on the ball is a nightmare for opposition defenders to deal with as he constantly looks to create something going forward.
Formerly of the Melbourne City academy, Grimaldi has made a tremendous start to the campaign and will be eager to keep that run going.
Words from John Aloisi
On the growth of the Western United vs Melbourne City rivalry
“It’s definitely growing. We saw it with the Grand Final a few years back, also we had them in Round 1 last season and the season before.
“They’re always good games and we can see there’s that rivalry there. We want to make it into a rivalry that will last for a long time and keep building on it, and I’m sure it will because the games are always good.”
Words from the playing squad – Hiroshi Ibusuki
On if he has extra excitement to play in his first Melbourne derby as a Western United player
“Of course, why not? I am really motivated and excited, and I can’t wait to play this game.
“Every weekend we have a big game. Maybe a derby is a special game, but nothing changes. We are doing the same thing. There is extra motivation and excitement, but in our head we have to stay cool.”
