Adelaide United’s in-form striker Luka Jovanovic has set his sights on breaking one of the last remaining blanks on his A-League résumé — a goal against Melbourne Victory.
The 20-year-old frontman heads into Friday night’s blockbuster at AAMI Park riding a surge of confidence after scoring in consecutive wins over Perth Glory and Sydney FC. Yet despite five previous “Original Rivalry” appearances, Victory remain one of only two current league opponents he has yet to score against.
“That’s the plan for me,” Jovanovic said ahead of the clash. “Hopefully I can do that.”
Ladder Pressure Adds Edge
The stakes stretch far beyond personal milestones.
Adelaide sit fourth on 29 points, just ahead of Melbourne Victory in fifth on 27 points. A win for the Reds would temporarily lift them level with second-placed Auckland FC and tighten the race near the summit.
Recent form suggests Adelaide arrive with momentum:
- Adelaide United (Last 5): W-D-L-W-W
- Melbourne Victory (Last 5): W-L-W-D-W
Both sides carry strong performance ratings heading into the fixture — Adelaide at 6.83 and Victory close behind at 6.81 — underlining how little separates the rivals.
Confirmed Lineups
Adelaide United (4-4-2)
- GK: James Snits (22)
- DEF: Ryan Kitto (7), Panagiotis Kikianis (14), Bart Vriends (3), Javi López Yull (12)
- MID: Ethan Alagich (55), Ryan White (11), Jay Barnett (14), Javi Muniz (10)
- FWD: Luka Jovanovic (9), Yaya Dukuly (19)
Subs: Ethan Cox (40), Panashe Madanha (36), Sotiri Phillis (52), Ben Folami (17), Luke Duzel (23), Brody Burkitt (35)
Melbourne Victory (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Jack Warshawsky (40)
- DEF: Roderick Miranda (21), Adama Traoré Esposito (15), Connor Rawlins (22), Jason Geria (10)
- MID: Jordi Valadon (8), N. Velupillay (17)
- ATT MID: Juan Mata (64), Kasey Jelacic (23), Daniel Arzani
- FWD: Bruno Fornaroli
Subs: Jack Duncan (25), Joshua Inserra (16), Matthew Grimaldi (14), Clarismario (11), Xavier Stella (34), Reno Piscopo (7)
(Formations based on official pre-match confirmation.)
Jovanovic’s Hot Streak
The young striker has now scored six goals in 15 appearances, with back-to-back goals reigniting his campaign.
“Once you don’t score for a couple of weeks and you get that one, everything just starts falling for you,” he said. “As a striker, scoring goals is very important — not only for me but for the team.”
Adelaide’s 4-0 dismantling of Perth Glory and 2-1 win over Sydney FC have sharpened belief within the squad. Coach Airton Andrioli has demanded a ruthless edge to extend the winning run to three.
“It’s a good time,” Andrioli said. “We want to keep that going. We have a game plan, but we still have to go and do a job. Discipline and focus will be crucial.”
The Mata Factor
Standing in Adelaide’s way is a rejuvenated Melbourne Victory led by Spanish maestro Juan Mata.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea playmaker delivered one of the standout individual displays of the season in Victory’s 3-1 derby win over Melbourne City last weekend.
Andrioli was quick to praise the veteran’s class.
“You can’t take for granted players of that calibre playing in Australia,” the Reds boss said. “He never gives the ball away… outstanding player.”
Nullifying Mata’s creativity while maintaining attacking fluency will define Adelaide’s tactical challenge.
Rivalry That Never Dulls
For Jovanovic, the occasion runs deeper than statistics.
Growing up as a Reds supporter, the “Original Rivalry” shaped his football upbringing.
“We always wanted to beat Victory,” he said. “As a playing group, we understand how big this game is — for our table position and more importantly for the fans.”
With finals positioning tightening and confidence high on both sides, Friday night’s contest promises intensity from the opening whistle.
For Adelaide United, the equation is simple: continue the surge, close the gap at the top, and let their young striker finally tick off Melbourne Victory from his scoring list.
For Jovanovic, one goal could mean far more than three points.
