Western United will play its final home match of the 2022/23 Isuzu UTE A-League Men season, taking on Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 25
Western United vs Melbourne City
Saturday, 22 April
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEST
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on 10Bold and Paramount+
Team News
Two star midfielders will give John Aloisi a big boost to his line-up for this contest with Neil Kilkenny and Alessandro Diamanti both in contention to feature.
Kilkenny has missed more than a month of action with a calf problem, while Diamanti sat out last week’s match with a knock to his ribs.
Western United squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (gk), 4. Leo LACROIX, 5. Dylan PIERIAS, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Tongo DOUMBIA, 8. Lachie WALES, 9. Michael RUHS, 10. Steven LUSTICA, 11. Connor PAIN, 14. James TROISI, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 23. Alessandro DIAMANTI (c), 27. Jacob TRATT, 37. Ryan SCOTT (gk) 38. Noah BOTIC, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 88. Neil KILKENNY, 99. Aleksandar PRIJOVIC
Last time out
Western United scored a brilliant win last weekend with a 1-0 win against Adelaide United away from home.
READ MORE: ALM Match Report: Adelaide United 0-1 Western United
Connor Pain’s goal right before half-time secured the victory, United’s first in Adelaide since the inaugural season and a crucial one in the ongoing race for finals football.
Previous Meetings
Western United have enjoyed some historic battles with Melbourne City over the years and has a relatively strong record against the league’s leading team in recent years.
After losing each of the first five meetings, United went on to win four of the subsequent five – the last of which was the incredible Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final last year.
City have beaten United twice this season so the Green and Black will be looking for revenge with a big three points on the line.
Key Matchup: Dylan Pierias vs Jordan Bos
Dylan Pierias is on fire for Western United, shining for the Green and Black in three straight starts across the last three matches.
His blistering pace, direct running and tenacity down the right-hand side has been a threat to each opposition defence and Pierias will be hoping to keep that form up this weekend.
The No.5 will have a difficult task ahead of himself this time around, though, as he is set to line up against one of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s brightest stars.
Jordan Bos has been a revelation at left back, becoming a regular starter and earning his Socceroos debut on the back of a string of top class performances.
Pierias will hope to get the better of his opposite number in a battle that could prove pivotal in deciding the outcome of the match.
Player to Watch: Aleksandar Prijovic
Aleksandar Prijovic always stands up for the big matches and he will be looking to draw on his Grand Final performance to guide United to another big win over City.
The Serbian dazzled on that night in May, winning the Joe Marston Medal as United lifted its first ever Isuzu UTE A-League Championship.
Just two days after his 33rd birthday, all eyes will be on Prijovic on another big night for Western United with a win set to keep the Green and Black firmly in the hunt for finals football.
