ACLE PREVIEW: City v Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Melbourne City will play their first competitive home match of the season against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday night at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. This marks their return to the venue since winning the A-League Men’s Grand Final earlier in the year, and the team aims to start the 2025/26 campaign positively.

This match is significant as it is Melbourne City's first appearance in Asia's top-tier competition since its restructuring and rebranding to the AFC Champions League Elite. Despite strong performances in previous editions, where they lost only once, the team narrowly missed advancing to the knockout stages. Maximizing home fixtures, starting with this Matchday 1 encounter, is considered crucial for progressing further this season.

The opponent, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, presents a tough challenge as they are currently mid-season in the J1 League and sitting in sixth place. A victory for Melbourne City would not only set a positive tone for the group stage but also build momentum ahead of their upcoming away matches.

Tuesday's match may also feature several new signings and academy talents. Liam Bonetig, who has been with the team since pre-season, could make an appearance, while Japanese forward Takeshi Kanamori might make his debut after settling in. Newest signing Elbasan Rashani, however, will not feature in this match but could debut in Matchday 2. Additionally, promising academy players from Melbourne City's VPL1 promotion-winning side may also be included, some of whom have already made senior debuts in the Australia Cup.