The 5 Sydney derby flashpoints that have ignited the rivalry

There is a very good season Saturday night's Sydney derby at Allianz Stadium is a sell-out. The fans know something is bound to happen. Whether it's great football or drama, or both, if you've bought a ticket you're not going to be disappointed.

The A-League Round 2 Sydney derby lived up to all the pre-game hype in more ways than one Source: Getty Images

To get you in the mood, The World Game revisits five flashpoint moments that have helped create what has quickly become a derby legend.

There have only been nine Sydney derbies so far, but the history of clashes between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers has overflowed with controversy. Alleged racial vilification, shocking tackles, red cards, horror injuries, they have all been a part of it.

Derby No. 3: Round 26 - 23 March 2013, Parramatta Stadium

Even mild-mannered former Socceroos midfielder Brett Emerton was not immune to being overcome by Sydney derby fever. Emerton, the Sydney captain, received a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Shannon Cole.

The derby has always been a risky vehicle for occasionally volatile players and Iacopo La Rocca, then of the Wanderers and now of Adelaide United, is one of those. He was red-carded for lashing out with his elbow in an off-the ball incident that left Terry Antonis bloodied and battered in stoppage time.

There were also eight yellow cards handed out on the night. The match was drawn, 1-1.

Derby No. 6: Round 22 - 8 March 2014, Allianz Stadium

The game erupts late when Sydney FC's Ali Abbas charges around the pitch after Wanderers striker Brendon Santalab and has to be restrained by team-mates - and it spilled over at full-time again.

In a post-match interview, an incensed Abbas alleged he was racially abused by Santalab: "I come from a different country, I respect everyone here, I should get it (respect) back.

"If I don’t get it back, I’m going to attack. That’s what happened. If people attack religion, if people attack culture, I’m against that. We need to stop that."

Sydney, which won the game 3-1, made an official complaint over the incident and the FFA launched an investigation, but five weeks and two hearings later the committee dismissed the claim, saying that due to "undisputed high noise levels and in the absence of other eye-witnesses or corroborative evidence, it was possible that Ali Abbas may have misheard what was said by Brendon Santalab".

Abbas was reportedly "extremely upset" over the decision.

Derby No. 7: Round 2 - 18 October 2014, Allianz Stadium

Vitor Saba wasn't at the Wanderers for long but the Brazilian managed to etch his name in Sydney derby history while he was here.

He rushed in with an ill-timed, two-footed challenge that sent Sydney's golden boy Antonis flying over the top of him and writhing in agony upon landing.

Saba was shown the red card as Sydney players rushed in to jostle with him. Sasa Ognenovski cuffed Saba on the back of the head and Sebastian Ryall repeatedly pushed him as Wanderers players surrounded the Brazilian and got him off the field before the match erupted further.

It was 2-2 at that stage, after the Wanderers had led 2-0. Alex Brosque later scored to give Sydney a thrilling 3-2 win.

Derby No. 8: Round 8 - 29 November 2014, Pirtek Stadium

Early in the game, Abbas was the victim of a clumsy challenge from La Rocca, who clattered into him. Replays showed the impact forcing the Sydney player's knee back and he was forced to leave the field in pain.

It emerged that Abbas had ruptured both the anterior cruciate and medial ligaments, meaning a long spell out of the game.

The match finished 1-1, but the result was secondary in the Sydney camp, where the mood was dim due to the seriousness of the player's injury. The incident drew no action from the referee, who obviously ruled the contact accidental.

Sydney coach Graham Arnold said the incident looked "terrible" to him and that Abbas was "devastated" in the dressing-room.

"The same player nailed him twice in three or four minutes, and no yellow card," Arnold said.

Arnold accused two Wanderers players - La Rocca and Matthew Spiranovic - of giving each other a "hi-five" as Abbas was carried off the field of play.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was insulted by Arnold's allegation and said it was "completely out of order."

La Rocca vehemently denied that he had tried to hurt Abbas, saying: "I am not a dirty player" and that he played "aggressively, but with fair intentions".

Abbas was singled out for abuse on Twitter in the wake of the match, with trolls delighting in his injury. Sydney CEO Tony Pignata said he was appalled by some of the comments.

"We all love our sport and we all support our teams, which is great, but we need to act in a sportsmanlike manner," Pignata said.

"Some of the comments I’ve seen [to Abbas] are very disappointing. I must emphasize that this is a minority, 98 per cent of fans are genuinely supportive and respectful.

"But this goes for all fans, including our fans and all across the A-League: let’s show our passion and love for the game, but do it in a dignified manner."

Abbas is still working towards making his playing comeback.

Derby No. 9: Round 19 - 28 February 2015, Pirtek Stadium

A pulsating match saw Sydney break out to a 3-0 lead on the road by midway through the first half, only for the Wanderers to pull two goals back before half-time and then equalise soon after the break.

Antonis put Sydney back in front, 4-3, in the 74th minute, but there was a sting left in the tail. Sydney's Mickael Tavares fouled Mark Bridge and was shown his second yellow card.

Tavares pleaded his case to the referee that the treatment was harsh, but like with every other refereeing decision, from the dawn of time, it was final.

Sydney was down to 10 men and forced to try to play it out from the 82nd minute on the road against a Wanderers team that came at them with everything they had.

The visitor hung on to win a pulsating game.