Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix will face off on Monday night in the final round of the A-League regular season with both sides looking to pick up maximum points.
Venue: AAMI Park (Melbourne)
Key Statistics
Melbourne City are unbeaten in their last nine home games in all competitions.
The hosts have failed to score in two of their last three games.
They have lost their last two league games without scoring a goal.
Wellington Phoenix have won three of their last four away games, losing the other.
The visitors have conceded the most goals in the league this season (47 goals).
They have scored only 14 goals away from home this season. Only two sides have scored fewer away goals so far.
Head to head
In the last ten meetings between both sides, Melbourne City have four wins while Wellington Phoenix have managed three wins.
Latest performances in all competitions
Melbourne City: L-W-D-D-W
Wellington Phoenix: W-L-W-L-W
Melbourne City
Melbourne City will look to wrap up their 2021/22 Isuzu UTE regular A-League season with a win that will win them the Premiers Plate when they welcome New Zealanders Wellington Phoenix to AAMI Park on Monday night.
The hosts are looking to make it two Premiers Plate wins in two seasons after their last season’s triumph. But unlike last season when they ended the season in a strong form to seal both the title and the Premiers Plate, this season, they have struggled towards the end.
They come into this tie on the back of a shocking 2-0 loss to Wooden Spoon winners Perth Glory. That loss made it two league losses for Patrick Kisnorbo’s side following a 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory in the league before the last.
They remain arguably the league’s best side and should be backed to win this game. With their place at the top and a top-two finish also at stake, they will know that only a strong winning performance can guarantee them a successful end to the season.
The hosts are who are currently two points behind Melbourne Victory can still win the title with a draw because of their superior difference to both Western United and Melbourne Victory.
Possible Melbourne City starting line-up
Tom Glover; Carl Jenkinson, Jordan Hall, Nuno Reis, Scott Jamieson; Connor Metcalfe, Taras Gomulka; Mathew Leckie, Marco Tilio, Andrew Nabbout; Jamie Maclaren.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Curtis Good
Wellington Phoenix
While Melbourne City are playing for something very substantial, Wellington Phoenix are playing for something less important.
Having secured a top-six finish, the visitors who are currently sitting in sixth place are now playing to improve their league position.
They can end the season in the fifth position assuming they win this game and Adelaide United fail to win their game against Western United.
And so, Ufuk Talay’s side will be expected to approach this game with less pressure, as they have nothing to lose. However, with a chance to end Melbourne City’s chances of winning the title, perhaps they will be motivated to give their best in this game.
Possible Wellington Phoenix starting line-up
Daniel Margush; Tate Russell, Tomislav Mrcela, John Koutroumbis, Adama Traore; Steven Ugarkovic, Terry Antonis; Ramy Najjarine; James Troisi, Dimitri Petratos; Tomer Hemed.
Injured: Vedran Janjetovic, Rhys Williams
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Melbourne City 2-1 Wellington Phoenix
