Melbourne Victory vs Adelaide United: Jan 6, 2008

Are you looking for the preview of the A-League Grand Final, to be played between the Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United on February 28, 2009?

Number 1 meets number 2 at the Telstra Dome tonight, as Adelaide United and the Melbourne Victory go head to head to determine who takes the top of the ladder.

A win for Adelaide, giving them a 4-point lead at the top of the table with a game in hand, would all but guarantee them the Minor Premiership. On the other hand, Melbourne are fighting to stay in the race for number one. Three points going their way would put them a point above Adelaide, but the South Australian side still has a game in hand – we would need other results to swing our way.

In short, tonight is critical.

The fitness and depth of both sides will be tested, with neither side having had more than a four day break. Melbourne’s had an extra day to recover since its last match, but if there’s one thing Adelaide have proved this season, it’s that they have can dig deep and produce the goods even while running on tired legs.

Depth is certainly something which Merrick has at his disposal. Grant Brebner and Jose Luis Lopez, neither of whom were even in the squad over the past two weeks, could come into his line-up. After last week, I get the feeling that Evan Berger may be the one to be dropped tonight. Pulled off early against Queensland, I think Berger is the main one in the 16-man squad whose removal would make sense – and who could be easily replaced. Michael Thwaite may be due for a break – like Philip said, Kemp has looked better than him the last two weeks – but in such a critical game I can’t see Merrick pulling out one of his key defensive options.

My tip for tonight: Melbourne by two goals.