Melbourne Victory star Josh Brillante declares team won’t be overawed in Sydney FC A-League clash

Melbourne Victory captain Josh Brillante is adamant his team can finish in the A-League top six – and the job continues this Saturday in the ‘Big Blue’ against fierce rivals Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.

Victory have endured a testing season, currently sitting in 12th spot on the ladder after 18 rounds.

It is a scenario coach Tony Popovic, Victory fans and Brillante didn’t anticipate, but the 29-year-old firmly believes his team has finally turned the corner.

‘Football doesn’t always go to script, and injuries have played their part,’ Brillante told Daily Mail Australia.

‘We have played well in recent weeks, we beat [Melbourne] City in the derby and should have held on against Adelaide.

Melbourne Victory captain Josh Brillante is adamant his team can finish in the A-League top six

Tony Popovic’s men are sitting in 12th spot on the A-League ladder after 18 rounds, a scenario few predicted

‘The World Cup break [in November and December] also played its part, it has been challenging for us to build on momentum.’

Brillante – who was a fan favourite when on the books of Sydney FC between 2016 and 2019 – will return to Allianz Stadium this weekend as the enemy.

He will be hoping history personally repeats itself, after the midfielder scored the winner for Victory in their 3-2 win over the Sky Blues in what was an epic season opener on October 8.

‘Both are big clubs, it is always a big occasion with a great atmosphere,’ Brillante added.

‘Hopefully we have turned the corner.’

Meanwhile, Sydney FC chief executive Adam Santo has fired a barb at Melbourne Victory, claiming his club remains the A-League’s ‘biggest brand.’

And Santo said Steve Corica’s side – who beat Victory 2-1 in January’s most-recent meeting between the sides – have surpassed their rivals as Australia’s premier football club.

Sydney FC fans will look to generate an intimidating atmosphere for Melbourne Victory this weekend

‘If we keep it factual, if you add up the cumulative number of fans who have gone to Victory games it doesn’t add up to what Sydney FC get,’ Santo told AAP.

‘Our attendances are by far the number one in the league, football is in good health here.

‘We are the number one in terms of reach on TV as well, and we want to push through and dominate in all metrics.’

Santo then went a step further, comparing the Big Blue to Australia’s version of Spain’s ‘El Clasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid.