Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory Prediction

Saturday’s A-League action will see Adelaide United throw everything they have at Melbourne Victory if they are to overtake Melbourne City at the top of the table.

One of the great entertainers of the season so far, only two side have seen more goals scored in their fixtures than Adelaide, and Saturday’s affair promises to be another exciting spectacle of attacking football.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory have been silently making progress, and find themselves seventh, just two points outside the top six, and five points off the top of the league. A win here would do their title aspirations the world of good, and so both sides have plenty on the line heading into this one.

As a critical game at the top of the A-League approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Key Statistics

• Adelaide haven’t defeated Melbourne Victory in any of their last six meetings, dating back to November 2022.
• However, Adelaide come into this one in good form, winning three and drawing one of their last five games.
• In contrast, Melbourne Victory have failed to win any of their last five, seeing a dramatic drop in position.
• Just 32 total goals have been scored across Victory’s 12 league games so far, the second lowest total within the top 8 teams.

Adelaide United Preview

Adelaide United Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): James Delianov (GK); Javi Lopez, Panagiotis Kikianis, Bart Vriends, Dylan Pierias; Ethan Alagich, Jay Barnett; Ben Folami, Stefan Mauk, Zach Clough; Archie Goodwin.

In a fine vein of form, and scoring goals for fun, Adelaide are a daunting opposition for any side at the moment.

Headed by in-form Englishman Zach Clough, who has accumulated 5 goals and 4 assists so far, Adelaide are in irresistible force up top at the moment, with them failing to score in just two games since January 2024.

Strangely though, it is their away form that has propelled them into second place, with their home form only good enough to rank seventh overall. So Adelaide need to watch their step here. A win would put serious pressure on top of the table Melbourne City, but a defeat could see them fall out of the top three.

Melbourne Victory Preview

Melbourne Victory Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jack Duncan (GK); Adama Traore, Roderick Miranda, Brendan Hamill, Jason Geria; Jordi Valadon, Ryan Teague; Reno Piscopo, Zinedine Machach, Daniel Arzani; Bruno Fornaroli.

Though less clinical in front of goal this season, Melbourne pose a significant threat to Adelaide on the counter-attack. Conceding just 14 goals this season, they have been relying on turning stubborn defence into electric offence for the majority of this season.

For the most part it has paid off. Until mid-December, Victory were in the top two and looking comfortable. However, a sudden drop in form has left them five points adrift of top spot, and lingering outside the top six.

Three draws and two defeats in their last five games, conceding 10 goals in the process, has seen their game plan suddenly come under scrutiny, with their defence no longer staying as watertight as in early season. If Victory can revert to the form they were in during the first 8 games of the season, they stand a big chance of coming away with something. But it is a big if…

Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 21/09/2024: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Adelaide United.
• 09/03/2024: Adelaide United 1-2 Melbourne Victory.
• 30/12/2023: Melbourne Victory 2-0 Adelaide United.
• 04/11/2023: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Adelaide United.
• 26/02/2023: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Adelaide United.

Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory Betting Tip

While this game promises to be tight, Adelaide can be considered marginal favourites prior to kick-off.

In terms of goals, there have been over 3.5 in three of Adelaide's last five games, and Melbourne Victory have scored in all but two of their last 11 games. So we are backing over 3.5 goals and both teams to score.

Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory Final Prediction

Adelaide United 3-1 Melbourne Victory

While Victory are more than capable of restricting the home side to a draw, Adelaide’s form is simply too good to get anything less than three points.