Stopping the Hyundai A-League's ‘best-ever player’ is the task facing Adelaide United in Saturday night’s free-to-air clash with in-form Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium, according to Carl Valeri.
Japanese superstar Keisuke Honda has been red-hot for Victory so far this season, and played a key role as the Melbourne side eased past Western Sydney Wanderers 4-0 in last weekend’s Hyundai A-League.
WRAP: Victory impressive as Honda sparkles again
STATS: Japanese star blazing a trail
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Honda scored his side’s opener with a thumping header and finished the match with stats showing four goals and three assists, as well as 20 chances created, across the six rounds.
The 32-year-old's drive, as Victory have recovered from back-to-back defeats in their opening two matches, has certainly impressed skipper Valeri, who rates his club’s new signing at the top of the pile.
“People often ask me ‘what should a young player do?’. [The answer is] ‘be more like Keisuke’.”
“I think Keisuke Honda is the best player to come to the A-League,” Valeri said after Saturday’s triumph. “The way he trains, the way he approaches games, the way he plays... he’s unbelievable.
“People often ask me ‘what should a young player do?’. [The answer is] ‘be more like Keisuke’. We should all feel very privileged to have him here at the club.”
While Honda will hope to steer Victory to a fifth win of the campaign on Saturday night, his side are unlikely to have it all their own way.
The Reds have plenty of ambition of their own, and have won two on the bounce, with last Friday’s 2-1 triumph over Brisbane Roar leaving them fourth in the ladder as they head to Victoria for what is sure to be a pulsating encounter.
Billed as the #OriginalRivalry, Melbourne Victory against Adelaide United is always one of the standout clashes on the Hyundai A-League calendar.
Watch it LIVE and FREE on 10 Boss or tenplay, as well as FOX SPORTS 505, with kick off at 7.50pm (AEDT). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers.
