On Friday, October 18, the new A-League season will commence with Central Coast Mariners hosting Melbourne Victory in the opening match. The game is set to start at 10:30 CET, and our experts have provided a prediction for this matchup.
Central Coast Mariners
The Mariners have been crowned A-League champions for two consecutive years, winning their third league title last season with a 3-1 victory over Melbourne Victory in the final. Notably, two seasons ago, they dominated Melbourne City with a 6-1 win in the final. In the past two campaigns, they have consistently outperformed Melbourne teams in crucial matches.
However, the Mariners’ recent form has been concerning, as they lost all three of their matches between August and October—one in the Australia Cup and two in the AFC Champions League. To make matters worse, striker Ángel Torres will miss the start of the season due to a suspension stemming from serious allegations, marking a significant blow for the team.
Melbourne Victory
As noted, Melbourne Victory reached the A-League final last season but fell short, losing 3-1 to the Mariners. While they have won four league titles in the past, they couldn’t secure a fifth. Additionally, they faced another setback in the Australia Cup, losing 1-0 to Macarthur in the final.
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Unlike the Mariners, Victory are not involved in any international tournaments. Last season, they finished third in the regular-season standings, and this year, they are seen as one of the top contenders for the A-League title.
Key Facts about the match
- The two teams faced off in last season’s A-League playoff final.
- Central Coast secured their second consecutive title.
- However, the Mariners are currently on a three-match losing streak.
Probable Lineups
- Central Coast Mariners: Pavlesic; Ruh, Kaltak, Paul, Moragis; Theoharous, Tapp, McCalmont, Doka; Brandtman, Kuol
- Melbourne Victory: Langerak; Geria, Hamill, Roderick, Bos; Teague, Mahazi, Valadon; Velupillay, Vergos, Piscorepo
Head-to-Head (H2H)
In their last meeting, the Mariners triumphed with a 3-1 victory. Over the past five encounters, Central Coast has won twice, Melbourne Victory once, and there have been two draws.
Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory Prediction
This is a crucial game for both sides as they look to kick off the new season on a strong note. Both teams are in decent form after recent matches. Therefore, I predict that both teams will score, with odds of 1.78.
