Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Melbourne: Coach Kevin Muscat is determined to guide his Melbourne Victory side into the AFC Champions League Round of 16 for the first time ahead of Tuesday's visit of Gamba Osaka to Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Currently in second place in Group G but level on points with Korea Republic's Suwon Samsung Bluewings in third, Muscat's side must match or better Suwon's result at home to group winners Shanghai SIPG.
If the two sides were to finish the group with the same points, Melbourne would progress via a better head-to-head record and make their first appearance in the last 16 after four previous attempts.
“The expectations are great here,” Muscat said. “They’re even greater from within the four walls of the changing room.
“Without doubt, we want the season to prolong and we’ve prepared accordingly. We're still here working hard and we want to do so for the next three weeks.
“We want to get out of the group for the first time in our history. Hopefully it’s a healthy crowd, it looks like being so, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Gamba arrive in Melbourne already eliminated from the competition, with the 2008 winners chasing their first win of the 2016 campaign, having tallied just two points, one of which was gained in a 1-1 draw with Melbourne in Osaka.
“Unfortunately we cannot play in this competition any more,” said Gamba coach Kenta Hasegawa.
“We have to leave this competition. It’s difficult to play in this situation but having said that we are professionals and we have to win tomorrow, we must. In this group, every team and the level is very tight so it’s a very tiny difference between the four teams.
"We had difficulty scoring and we conceded goals, which has meant we couldn’t make it to the next stage. But there has been an opportunity for every four clubs in this group.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports