Asian Champions League
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Played
May 29, 2012 11:00 AM BST
Hindmarsh Stadium — Adelaide
Referee:‬ A. Bin Abdul Bashir‎
Attendance:‬ 9758‎
 
41′ Jonathan McKain
 

Adelaide United - Nagoya Grampus Preview: Hosts represent last hope for A-League in Hindmarsh encounter

Group E winners Adelaide are hopeful that their form remains intact in front of a home crowd, while visiting Grampus need to get back on track after several rough league outings

By Dan Orlowitz

More On :  Adelaide United, Nagoya Grampus, Adelaide United vs Nagoya Grampus
Adelaide United
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  PROBABLE LINE-UPS
ADELAIDE UNITED

Galekovic
Boogaard, McKain, Mullen, Cassio
Malik, Caravella, Barbiero, Vidosic,
Djite, Ramsey
NAGOYA GRAMPUS
Narazaki
Tanaka, Tulio, Masukawa, Abe
Ogawa, Taguchi, Fujimoto
Kanazaki, Nagai, Tamada

Adelaide United manager John Kosmina is unlikely to change his usual 4-4-2 formation, confident that the the side that went unbeaten in the last three matches to qualify for the round of 16 will be up for the task. Defender John McKain has recovered from a recent Achilles injury and is expected to start as United continue in their quest for their first Asian Champions League finals berth since 2008.

Visiting Nagoya Grampus are struggling, however, with just one win in their last six league matches. Coach Dragan Stojkovic was upset with the team's attacking display following their 1-0 loss over the weekend against Cerezo Osaka, and have now only scored one goal in their last three games. Currently 13th in the J-League table, Nagoya are struggling in a similar fashion to 2009 when they reached the ACL semi-finals but could finish no better than ninth.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Adelaide United conceded just two goals in the group stage, the lowest of all 32 teams participating in the tournament.
  • The Hindmarsh Stadium has hosted 18 previous ACL matches, with Adelaide winning 11 of them.

  • Adelaide have won and lost four in equal measure against Japanese clubs.
  • Nagoya Grampus were one of six clubs to finish the group stage unbeaten.
  • They also reached the round of 16 last year, losing to Suwon Bluewings away.
  • The 2010 J-League champions went undefeated against Central Coast Mariners in group play, drawing 1-1 away and winning 3-0 at home.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Adelaide United 1-2 Nagoya Grampus
    20.33 %
  • Adelaide United 1-0 Nagoya Grampus
    12.2 %
  • Adelaide United 2-0 Nagoya Grampus
    12.2 %
Head to Head
Asian Champions League ‎(ACL)‎ May 29, 2012 Adelaide United 1 - Nagoya Grampus 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
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Last Five Matches
Adelaide United
Apr 7, 2013Adelaide United 1 - Brisbane Roar 2AUS1
Mar 30, 2013Perth Glory 1 - Adelaide United 1AUS1
Mar 24, 2013Adelaide United 0 - Central Coast Mariners 2AUS1
Mar 15, 2013Adelaide United 1 - Newcastle Jets 1AUS1
Mar 11, 2013Melbourne Heart 0 - Adelaide United 2AUS1
Nagoya Grampus
May 18, 2013Kashima Antlers 3 - Nagoya Grampus 1JPN1
May 11, 2013Nagoya Grampus 1 - Yokohama F. Marinos 2JPN1
May 6, 2013Nagoya Grampus 0 - Vegalta Sendai 2JPN1
May 3, 2013Kawasaki Frontale 2 - Nagoya Grampus 1JPN1
Apr 27, 2013Nagoya Grampus 1 - Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1JPN1
Odds
Returns: Adelaide United £26.30 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £58.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Nagoya Grampus £340.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Eugene GalekovicGoalkeeper
3Nigel BoogaardDefender
4Jonathan McKainDefender
16Daniel MullenDefender
6José de Abreu OliveiraDefender
5Iain FyfeDefender
-Zenon CaravellaMidfielder
10Dario VidosicStriker
17Iain RamsayMidfielder
18Fabian BarbieroMidfielder
11Bruce Jose DjiteStriker
30Mark BirighittiGoalkeeper
12Antony GolecDefender
14Cameron WatsonMidfielder
-Francisco UsucarMidfielder
10Sergio van DijkStriker
23Evan KostopoulosStriker
13Teeboy KamaraStriker
1Seigo NarazakiGoalkeeper
4Marcus Tulio TanakaDefender
5Takahiro MasukawaDefender
6Shohei AbeDefender
22DanielDefender
8Jungo FujimotoMidfielder
10Yoshizumi OgawaMidfielder
28Taishi TaguchiDefender
11Keiji TamadaStriker
16Joshua Blake KennedyStriker
13Kensuke NagaiStriker
50Yoshinari TakagiGoalkeeper
23Yosuke IshibitsuDefender
32Hayuma TanakaDefender
-Mu KanazakiMidfielder
35Teruki TanakaMidfielder
-Allessandro SantosMidfielder
-Yuki MakiStriker
Players to Watch
Sergio van Dijk
Sergio van Dijk
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
In a game that could very well come down to the strength of substitutes, van Dijk may be be asked to repeat his game-winning goal against Gamba Osaka two weeks ago.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka
Marcus Tulio Tanaka
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 4
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
Tulio isn't only a superb defender with many years in the tank despite his age, but in a pinch he's more than capable of going up the field as an additional attacker in the waning minutes of the match.
Prediction
Grampus' defence is usually sound but their recent poor form combined with the need to travel to Australia equal a tough outing for the visitors. Even if Adelaide are only able to score one goal, that's all they'll need unless Grampus find the spark they've been missing.
Editor's Prediction
Adelaide United 1
Nagoya Grampus 0
Results
Group A Matchday 1
Times In GMT
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Reysol 		5 0
Djibril Cissé Djibril Cissé
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Al Gharafa 		4 1
Sebastián Soria Sebastián Soria
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Lekhwiya 		4 0