Western Sydney Wanderers host city rival Sydney FC in the third derby of the A-League season on Saturday. The first two matches between the clubs have been fiery and No. 3 is destined to be the same.
Sydney FC are atop the A-League table with 47 points from 57 possible. The Sky Blues head into the weekend 10 points ahead of second-place Melbourne City, but that lead is likely to be just seven after the Heart’s game on Friday versus Central Coast Mariners.
Western Sydney Wanderers have been far more cold than hot this term. However, recent results have been very good for the Wanderers. They are unbeaten in five of their last six matches and are just two points off of the top six and the Finals Series.
Head Coach Steve Corica has a message for all our Members ahead of Saturday's #SydneyDerby behind closed doors 💬#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions pic.twitter.com/8pGZTL8Aoa— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) March 20, 2020
Head Coach Steve Corica has a message for all our Members ahead of Saturday's #SydneyDerby behind closed doors 💬#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions pic.twitter.com/8pGZTL8Aoa
Sydney FC have lost just once in their last 16 matches. Which team claimed victory against the Sky Blues? It was Western Sydney Wanderers, who won on February 2 at the Netstrata Jubilee Oval.
The Sky Blues have dipped in form in their last three games with just four points from nine taken. Their form dip will give Western Sydney Wanderers hope of taking all three points for a third time this campaign.
Sydney FC have the A-League's best away points total with 22 points from 27 possible. Manager Steve Corica’s team are on a four-match winning streak on their travels and have conceded just eight goals away from home.
Western Sydney Wanderers have the division’s second-worst home points total. Just 12 points from a possible 27 have been collected at Bankwest Stadium. Wanderers are just +2 in goal difference having conceded 11 and scored 13 at home.
The two previous Sydney Derbies played this season saw Wanderers win 1-0 in both games. Mitchell Duke scored the lone goal in the first derby at Bankwest Stadium in the first half to give Western Sydney the win.
Mitchell popped up again in the second meeting away from home to head Western Sydney into the lead in the 81st minute. That slim lead held up and Wanderers won again.
The third meeting of the season should be different between the two sides. Sydney FC have been excellent all season and have the A-League's leading scorer, Adam Le Fondre. The former Bolton Wanderers striker has bagged 16 goals and accounted for 39% of Sydney FC’s scoring.
Le Fondre should power the Sky Blues to victory as they finally break a three-match unbeaten run in the derby against Western Sydney Wanderers. It should be remembered that this game is being played behind closed doors.