Melbourne Victory vs Adelaide United – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | A-League 2021-22

Yaya Dukuly of Adelaide United and Marco Rojas of Melbourne Victory
Yaya Dukuly of Adelaide United and Marco Rojas of Melbourne Victory - IMAGO / Icon SMI

Adelaide United will travel to Melbourne this Saturday to face Melbourne Victory in the ninth round of the 2021/22 A-League season.

Venue: AAMI Park (Melbourne) 

Key Statistics

Melbourne Victory have lost just one of their last 12 matches in all competitions (W9, D2).

They have averaged 1.83 goals per game in the league this season. Only Newcastle Jets have a better goal average in the league this season.

Adelaide United are winless in their last three away games in all competitions (D2, L1).

They have won only one of their last seven matches in all competitions.

Head to head

Melbourne Victory have a good record against Adelaide United as they have won 28 out of 58 matches played between them. Adelaide United have 20 victories against Melbourne Victory while ten ended in a draw.

Latest Performances in all competitions

Melbourne Victory: W-W-W-D-W

Adelaide United: L-W-L-L-D

Melbourne Victory 

Melbourne Victory will look to continue their impressive league run when they welcome Adelaide United to the AAMI Park this Sunday.

The hosts have enjoyed a remarkable start to the 2021/21 campaign and are sitting on top of the league table after six games (W4, D1, L1).

Their last outing was in the FFA Cup, where coincidentally, they played Adelaide United. Victory won the game 2-1 thanks to an equaliser from Joshua Brillante and a Francesco Margiotta winner after Craig Goodwin had opened the scoring for United. 

The win gave Tony Popovic’s side a place in the last four of the FFA Cup and also extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to five games.

In the league, the Boys in Blue are on a three-match unbeaten run. They are level of points with Macarthur FC but are sitting on top of the table by virtue of goal difference. 

After finishing bottom of the table last season, they are desperate to make an excellent account of themselves this year. A win in this match will ensure that they stay top of the table and keep their momentum going at this early stage of the campaign.

Possible Melbourne Victory starting line-ups

Matt Acton; Aisen Ishak, Leigh Broxham, Edmond Lupancu, Stefan Nigro; Joshua Brillante, Jay Barnett; Robbie Kruse, Jake Brimmer, Lleyton Brooks; Francesco Margiotta.

Injured: Chris Ikonomidis

Doubtful: Matthew Spiranovic, Roderick Miranda.

Suspended: None

Adelaide United 

Struggling Adelaide United will look to avenge their FFA Cup exit at the hands of Melbourne Victory when they travel to AAMI Park on Sunday.

The visitors were sent packing from the cup by a determined Victory side last Wednesday despite scoring the first goal. The loss made worse their miserable form, which has seen them win just one of their opening six league games (D3, L2).

Such poor form has left them sitting in seventh place, two points behind the playoff places. 

They will be desperate to pick up maximum points in this tie but have a poor away record, having not won any of their opening three away games this season (D2, L1). It will take something special for them to win this game, considering the form of their opponent and their own miserable record at the moment.

Possible Adelaide United starting line-ups

Steven Hall; Josh Cavallo, George Timotheou, Jacob Tratt, Javi Lopez; Isaias Sanchez, Louis D’Arrigo, Ben Halloran; Ryan Kitto, Bernardo Oliveira, Stefan Mauk.

Injured: Kusini Yengi, Nick Ansell, Nathan Konstandopoulos

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Prediction

Melbourne Victory 2-0 Adelaide United