Words: ACFC Media
Thursday 19 January 2023
SALOU, Spain - Auckland City FC's face Reus FC Reddis in the first of three friendly matches at their preparatory camp in Salou, Spain, today.
Reddis have enjoyed a great start to their season and lead the way in their league with 29 points from 13 games and six wins out of their last seven.
Coach Albert Riera said it was difficult to know exactly what type of team Auckland City FC would face but that it was certain Reus FC Reddis would be highly motivated playing against a participant at a FIFA Club World Cup but would give his squad the work out it needed ahead of bigger games to come.
"It's been ten years since I was last involved at this level of the game in Spain but you can be sure Reus FC Reddis will want to prove a point.
We’re in Barcelona!
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) January 18, 2023
After a long journey the Auckland City FC squad are finally in Salou, Spain!
#StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/rQqJSFt2or
"The level they play at is sixth tier in Spain but that's still an excellent and respectable standard of football and there are a lot of ex-La Liga players in the competition who have now retired to other employment but want to keep playing," he said.
Missing for Auckland City FC are Jordan Vale (on holiday in England with his family), Reid Drake (getting married) and Dan Morgan (injured and in New Zealand).
With the first batch of City players arriving in Spain on Tuesday, a group that included current and former All Whites like Cam Howieson, Nikko Boxall, Ryan De Vries and Adam Mitchell, and a second arriving on Wednesday, Riera is likely to consider freshness and loading before confirming his team selection tonight.
Auckland City FC's only previous brush with Spanish opposition ended in defeat when a Navy Blues side coached by Ramon Tribulietx lost 1-0 to a strong Espanyol side in a friendly match on 5 December 2013 in Barcelona.
Ends
Match Details
Presitge Friendly
Thursday 19 January 2023
Reus FC Reddis v Auckland City FC
FutbolSalou Sports Complex, Spain
Kick-off: 6.30pm local time
AC: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Christian GRAY, 5.Nikko BOXALL, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Ryan DE VRIES, 12. Regont MURATI, 13. Nathan LOBO, 15. Aidan CAREY, 16. Joe LEE, 18. Finn DOCKERTY (GK), 19. Liam GILLION, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. Mike den HEIJER, 22. Adam BELL, 23. Matt ELLIS, 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 25. Taukya IWATA.
COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
MASSEUSE: Natalia KOSINSKA
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TECHNICAL: Adria CASALS
ANALYST: Jarrod WALLACE
MANAGER: Keith COTON.
ABOUT REUS FC REDDIS
Reus FC Reddis were formed at the beginning of 1922, the result of the merger of two previous youth clubs, Unió Esportiva and FC Català with their first competitive match a 3-0 away win on 2 July 1922.
Various theories exist on why Reus FC Reddis adopted their current colours with the blue and vertical white stripes chosen because they were unique to the area they occupied. Another theory is found in the patron saint of the city they are from, the Mother of God of Mercy.
The people from Reus are very fond of hanging daisies on our balconies for the festival of the patron saint on September 25 each year and the domassos with the three stripes with the white-and-blue colours are the same as those on the flag of Argentina. The blue of the Misericordia is practically the same as the "albiceleste" selection.
Reddis also has important ties to cycling, hiking and boxing with the club's cultural threads important to the identity of the club.
RECENT RESULTS
02.10.22 v. Prat II (A) won 2-1
09.10.22 v. Santboia (A) won 1-0
16.10.22 v. v. Sarria (H) won 4-0
23.10.22 v. Europa II (A) drew 0-0
31.10.22 v. Atletic Sant Just (H) drew 0-0
01.11.22 v. Can Vidalet (A) lost 2-3
14.11.22 v. Viladecans (H) won 1-0
21.11.22 v. Molins de Rei (A) won 2-1
28.11.22 v. Vilanova Geltru (A) won 1-0
05.12.22 v. Santfeliuenc (H) won 2-1
19.12.22 v. Valls (A) lost 1-2
09.01.23 v. Asco (H) won 1-0
15.01.23 v. Cambrils Unio (A) won 3-1
NEXT MATCHES:
Match Details
Prestige Friendly
Sunday 22 January 2023
Auckland City FC v Jeonbuk Motors (Korea Republic)
FutbolSalou Sports Complex, Spain
Kick-off: TBC
Prestige Friendly
Wednesday 25 January 2023
Barcelona B v Auckland City FC
Barcelona, Spain
Kick-off: TBC
FIFA Club World Cup
Wednesday 1 February 2023
Al Ahly (Egypt) v Auckland City FC
Tangiers, Morocco
Kick-off: 8.00pm local time
TBC 2025
Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BU | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 16 | 20 | |
2 | AC | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 19 | |
3 | WS | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 16 | 18 | |
4 | NC | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 14 | 17 | |
5 | WP | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 13 | |
6 | WO | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 11 | |
7 | CS | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 11 | |
8 | CT | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 9 | |
9 | ES | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 5 | |
10 | WE | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 4 |