ACLE Round of 16 First Leg Preview: City v Buriram Melbourne City returns to Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Tuesday night for a landmark occasion in club history, as it hosts its first-ever AFC Champions League Elite knockout fixture. The team faces Buriram United, a familiar opponent, in what promises to be a high-stakes Round of 16 tie. The two-leg format will determine progression to the Quarter Finals, with the first leg offering a critical opportunity to establish dominance. Making home advantage count will be vital for City, as it navigates a new challenge in Asia’s premier club competition. While the club has previously faced home-and-away finals domestically, the conditions in Thailand present a stark contrast. City’s League Stage home form provides reason for optimism, with two wins, a draw, and a single defeat in recent matches. A notable recent encounter against Buriram saw late goals from Elbasan Rashani and Max Caputo secure a dramatic comeback, highlighting the team’s resilience. The squad aims to replicate that performance, ideally without leaving it to the final moments, to take a strong result into the return leg in Thailand. The team’s recent form has been challenging, with consecutive league defeats and a three-match winless streak across all competitions. Saturday’s loss in Auckland adds urgency to the match, as knockout football often sharpens focus. Buriram arrives in strong form, with a six-game winning streak in all competitions and an unbeaten record in their past five AFC Champions League Elite matches since their previous meeting. This confidence underscores the importance of setting the tone early in Melbourne to rekindle momentum on the continental stage.#buriram_united #melbourne_city #aurelio_vidmar #afc_champions_league_elite #melbourne_rectangular_stadium
