A-League champions Melbourne City keen to test themselves against Asia’s best

The A-League’s best team is on a mission to also be successful on the continental stage.

Scott Jamieson’s Melbourne City meets BG Pathum in Thailand on Friday night. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Melbourne City enter the “unknown” of AFC Champions League football in Bangkok on Friday night.

City makes its Champions League debut with a Group G clash against Thai club BG Pathum United.

It’s a first foray into Asia for the A-League champions that comes a year later than expected after Australian clubs withdrew from the competition in 2021 because of Covid-19 ramifications.

But now that City is there, the cashed-up Melbourne outfit is aiming high, hoping to become just the second A-League club to win the Champions League after Western Sydney Wanderers achieved the feat in 2014.

“It’s great to be here – it’s the unknown for us,” City coach Patrick Kisnorbo said.

“It’s a tournament where our club wants to be and our players want to be.

“We want to test ourselves with the best, and there’s a lot of good teams out there.”

Scott Jamieson and his Melbourne City teammates are ready to be tested on the Asian stage. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

City captain Scott Jamieson was part of the Adelaide United team that made the 2008 Champions League final.

A teenager then, Jamieson wants to go one better this year after Adelaide was thrashed 5-0 over two legs by Japanese club Gamba Osaka.

“It was all a whirlwind,” Jamieson said.

“I was 18 or 19, and living the dream.

“The plan is to do that again but go one step further..”

City will play six group matches in a 17-day period in a centralised hub in Bangkok.

City’s cause hasn’t been helped by the long-term losses of French midfielder Florin Berenguer (hamstring stain) and midfielder Aiden O’Neill (broken foot).

Socceroos midfielder Connor Metcalfe will also miss Friday night’s match after testing positive to Covid-19.