Adelaide Set for Exciting Showdown in Original Rivalry
Adelaide United is set to host Melbourne Victory in Round 13 of the Isuzu UTE A-League. The matchup will take place on Saturday, January 17, at 7:35 PM AEDT. This fixture marks the second part of a double-header featuring both the A-League Women’s and Men’s teams at Coopers Stadium, highlighted by the fourth annual Pride Cup.
Melbourne Victory’s Recent Performance
In their last encounter in December, Melbourne Victory emerged victorious against Adelaide United. This win sparked a streak of four consecutive victories at AAMI Park. However, their momentum was recently interrupted when they faced a defeat against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Despite the setback, there were noteworthy performances in their previous match. Reno Piscopo returned from injury, while new players Jack Warshawsky and Kayne Razmovski made their A-League debuts. Warshawsky, particularly, showcased composed goalkeeping with a crucial save against the Wanderers.
Squad Changes
For the upcoming match, Melbourne Victory will be without defender Jason Davidson, serving a one-match suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card. The squad includes:
- Adama Traore
- Lachlan Jackson
- Reno Piscopo
- Nikolaos Vergos
- Denis Genreau
- Clerismario Santos Rodrigues
- Matthew Grimaldi
- Sebastian Esposito
- Joshua Insert
- Nishan Velupillay
- Franco Lino
- Jing Reec
- Keegan Jelacic
- Emre Saglam
- Jack Duncan
- Louis D’Arrigo
- Kayne Razmovski
- Oliver Dragicevic
- Jack Warshawsky
- Juan Mata
Unavailable players include Brendan Hamill (injured), Jordi Valadon (international duty), Roderick Miranda (injured), and Joshua Rawlins (international duty).
Adelaide United’s Quest for Consistency
Adelaide United aims to regain consistency as they enter the second half of the 2025/26 season. They hope to secure their first three points of the new year against Melbourne Victory, a team they have only defeated once in their last nine encounters.
Recently, United struggled against Wellington Phoenix, squandering a two-goal lead. They had previously lost 0-4 to Central Coast Mariners, further complicating their efforts. However, they ended 2025 on a positive note, with consecutive wins against Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Previous Encounters
In their last match-up, Nikos Vergos led Melbourne Victory to a 2-1 victory over Adelaide with two goals. Adelaide’s Dylan Pierias scored late, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
As both teams prepare for this exciting showdown, fans can expect a fierce rivalry with high stakes. Adelaide United seeks redemption, while Melbourne Victory aims to rebound from recent challenges.
