Santa has delivered a festive cracker for Hyundai A-League fans with a top-of-the-table clash between Sydney FC and Melbourne City on Sunday night.
The Sky Blues head into this Round 12 blockbuster after a 2-2 draw against Wellington Phoenix, their first dropped points since Round 3.
It has seen Steve Corica’s troops open up a six-point lead at the top of the ladder in both clubs’ final match of 2019.
City missed the chance to close the gap on the leaders last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by noisy neighbours Melbourne Victory in the Christmas Derby.
That result – a week after their 4-0 demolition of Newcastle – means it’s hard to get a read on the form of Erick Mombaerts’ men ahead of their visit to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
The visitors may go the aerial route if they are to get success in this one, having scored a Hyundai A-League high six headed goals so far in 2019/20, more than any other club.
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Sunday, 29 December 2019
Kick-off: 6.30pm AEDT
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
How to follow the action
Match centre: Live updates, videos and statistics
Follow @SydneyFC on Twitter and join the conversation using #SYDvMCY #SydneyIsSkyBlue
Team news
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 7. Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 20.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Marco TILIO, 25. Ryan TEAGUE, 26.Luke BRATTAN.
**2-4 to be omitted**
In: 7. Michael ZULLO (return from injury), 24.Marco TILIO (promoted), 25. Ryan TEAGUE (promoted).
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Ben WARLAND (ACL), 13. Brandon O’NEILL (knee), 19. Chris ZUVELA (knee)
Did you know?
- Melbourne City FC picked up a 2-0 win in their last A-League game against Sydney FC, snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Sky Blues in the process.
- Sydney FC have lost only one of their last six A-League games at home against Melbourne City FC (W3, D2); however, that defeat came in the most recent iteration of such a fixture.
- Sydney FC have won all of their previous six A-League games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, outscoring their opposition 17-3 in that time.
- Melbourne City FC have won their last two A-League games away from home on the bounce; the last – and only previous – time they won more was a three-game streak in December 2011.
- Adam Le Fondre (Sydney FC) has scored nine first-half goals this A-League campaign; no other player has scored more than five.
