Semi-Final Preview: New eras, same old rivalry in first ever FFA Cup Sydney Derby

Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers will face off in the FFA Cup for the first time in the competition's history on Saturday night.

There are new eras unfolding at both clubs, headed by new men in the dugout and star men on the field for the two city rivals.

The stage is set for one of the FFA Cup’s biggest ever occasions – read on as we speculate how it might play out!

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One way Derby traffic

Clashes between the two Sydney rivals are always special but there promises to be even more spice in this one with a spot in the big dance on the line.

The lure of a spot in the Final makes this a special occasion on its own merit, but the match will also serve as the clearest insight yet into how both teams are faring in their respective new eras.

A win for either could do wonders for confidence, and lay down an early marker ahead of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season.

Sydney FC have dominated this fixture in recent years. The Sky Blues have lost just one of the last 13 meetings between the two sides and winning eight, and certainly have held a measure of superiority over their Red and Black rivals.

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A "50/50" contest: Wanderers boss

However, with the Wanderers now operating under Markus Babbel’s clean slate, the club has the perfect opportunity to put a stop to that dominance.

Western Sydney will enter this clash off the back of their strongest display yet under the German, a 2-1 win over Melbourne City in the Quarter-Finals.

The Red and Black showed class and resilience in dispatching City and with the likes of Oriol Riera, Alex Baumjohann and Roly Bonevacia in good form, they could cause Sydney FC plenty of problems.

“It’s a 50/50 game,” Babbel told media this week.

“It’s a fantastic game for Sydney, I hope many crowds are coming, a semi-final is something special but I said this to my boys: semi-final is cool, but to come in a final is much cooler. We will give everything – the chance is there, and we’re going to take it.

“The result is the most important thing in the cup. Of course, if the performance is also good then you are happy as a coach but in a cup competition it’s only about the result.

“If we play bad and come in the final, I’m happy.”

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Cup holders slowly building

The Wanderers might relish their home ground advantage, but the side know they’ll have to be at their best to overturn their torrid recent record against the Sky Blues.

The defending FFA Cup champions have seen off Rockdale City Suns, Cairns FC and Avondale en route to the semi’s, and have shown patches of tantalising attacking intent.

That was best highlighted in the first half of their Quarter Final against Avondale, in which Adam Le Fondre and Trent Buhagiar ran riot.

Le Fondre, fellow marquee Siem de Jong and playmaker Milos Ninkovic appear to be hitting their stride and all three could prove to be the difference in sending Sydney FC to back to back FFA Cup Finals.