Sports · Football · 14 hrs ago
Melbourne Victory face Persib Bandung with four first-team players absent
Melbourne Victory play Persib Bandung in Indonesia on Wednesday in the AFC Champions League Two, the clubs’ third match in the competition.
Victory are unbeaten after drawing with Thể Công–Viettel and beating FC Seoul 3-0.
Persib have won both opening matches against those same teams, putting top spot in Group E at stake.
Victory will be without four first-team players for the match.
Full back Josh Inserra is still being observed in hospital after being injured in Saturday’s derby, and the club has not set a return date; captain Jason Davidson, forward Guillermo May and midfielder Louis D’Arrigo stayed in Melbourne ahead of the weekend’s game.
The result could change who leads Group E, with both teams seeking to strengthen their position in the group.
Victory next host Central Coast Mariners on Sunday, while supporters in Australia can watch the match on Paramount+.
Melbourne Victory will face Persib Bandung in the AFC Champions League Two in West Java on Wednesday, October 28.
Victory will be without four first-team players: injured full back Joshua Inserra, captain Jason Davidson, forward Guillermo May and midfielder Louis D’Arrigo.
Inserra was hospitalised after being withdrawn from Saturday’s Melbourne Derby, remains under observation and has no return-to-play date.
Davidson, May and D’Arrigo have stayed in Melbourne ahead of Victory’s weekend match against Central Coast Mariners.
Victory have a point and a 3-0 win from their first two ACL Two matches, while Persib have won both and sit atop Group E.
- Who
- Melbourne Victory and Persib Bandung.
- What
- They are meeting in the AFC Champions League Two, with Victory missing four first-team players.
- When
- Wednesday, October 28, with kick-off at 11:15pm AEDT.
- Where
- Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in West Java, Indonesia.
- Why
- Inserra is injured; Davidson, May and D’Arrigo stayed in Melbourne ahead of the Central Coast Mariners match.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Victory earned a point away against Thể Công–Viettel in their opening ACL Two match.
Victory beat FC Seoul 3-0 in their second ACL Two match.
Victory drew 1-1 with Melbourne City; Inserra was withdrawn and later hospitalised.
Victory are scheduled to face Persib Bandung in West Java.
- Victory absentees
- Joshua Inserra, Jason Davidson, Guillermo May and Louis D’Arrigo
- Inserra’s status
- Under observation; no return-to-play date set
- Match venue
- Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, West Java
- Kick-off
- 11:15pm AEDT on October 28
- Group E
- Persib have won both opening matches and sit on top of the group