7:30pm local time on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Melbourne City
$2.80 at CrownBet.com
Ladder position: 3rd
League form: W W W L D
Western Sydney Wanderers
$2.65 at Luxbet.com
Ladder position: 2nd
League form: W W D W D
Draw
$3.60 at Bet365.com
Last five A-League meetings
Melbourne City 0-3 Wanderers
Wanderers 1-1 Melbourne City
Wanderers 3-2 Melbourne City
Melbourne City 2-1 Wanderers
Melbourne Heart 2-3 Wanderers
THIRD hosts second this Saturday as Melbourne City look to close the gap on Western Sydney Wanderers in A-League 2015-16.
The Melbournians are the highest-scoring team in the division, with 32 goals in 13 games, but have drifted off the pace over the festive period amid an extremely difficult run of fixtures.
After this weekend’s clash, City will have played four of the top five – that is, every title contender except themselves – in their last four outings.
They got the job done against Melbourne Victory before Christmas, but were bashed 3-1 by Brisbane Roar and could only manage a draw against Sydney FC.
That leaves them six points adrift of the summit, where Roar and Wanderers are level on 27 points apiece.
And given fifth-placed Victory are facing wooden-spoon favourites Central Coast Mariners on Friday night, anything but a win would almost certainly see City slide out of the top four.
The outlook isn’t terrific for John van’t Schip and company, as Western Sydney have not lost an A-League match since October 2015.
That 10-game undefeated run includes a 3-0 hammering of City at AAMI Park, as well as clutch wins over Brisbane and Victory in December.
They were held 0-0 by Adelaide United last week, so they will be eager to notch a three-pointer and put pressure on the Roar in their battle for top spot.
Wanderers will take extra confidence from their head-to-head record against City, against whom they have claimed 23 of a possible 30 points since joining the A-League in 2012.
Melbourne City teams news
With the January transfer window now open for business, it remains to be seen exactly who is available to City on Saturday.
David Williams pulled out of a swap deal with Adelaide this week, meaning the two-time Socceroos forward – who is now said to be angling for a switch to Newcastle Jets – may yet be in the mix for Wanderers’ visit.
Goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, however, will almost certainly take the bench against his former club, having completed a move from Western Sydney on Wednesday.
He replaces the released Tando Velaphi, who will now look to further his career in Asia.
Star man Aaron Mooy is expected to return after missing the draw with Sydney FC, while defender Paulo Retre is available after serving a suspension.
Jacob Melling picked up an ankle injury last week and will ride the sidelines along with James Brown (foot) and Marc Marino (knee).
Possible Melbourne City XI: Sorenson, Retre, Hughes, Kisnorbo, Clisby, Trifiro, Koren, Mooy, Mauk, Novillo, Fornaroli.
Western Sydney Wanderers team news
With Bouzanis gone, Wanderers have picked up Liam Reddy from Central Coast Mariners to provide some competition for Andrew Redmayne in goal.
The former Brisbane Roar ‘keeper will slot straight into the squad for Saturday’s trip south, along with promoted youngsters Jonathan Aspro, Kearyn Baccus and Jaushua Sotirio.
Scott Neville will miss out through suspension, but otherwise WSW head coach Tony Popovic has a full roster at his disposal.
Possible WSW XI: Redmayne, Jamieson, Alberto, Topor-Stanley, Aspro, Nichols, Dimas, Andreu, Bridge, Castelan, Piovaccari.
Match predictions
– Wanderers to win ($2.65 at Luxbet)
– Over 2.5 match goals ($1.75 at William Hill)
– Halftime score 1-1 ($7.60 at CrownBet)
City showed plenty of encouraging signs in last week’s draw with Sydney FC, and they will be boosted by the return of the creative tour-de-force that is Aaron Mooy.
However, they have a stinking record against Western Sydney, who have won seven and lost only one of their 10 A-League encounters with Melbourne’s second side.
There will be goals, but the signs suggest the in-form Wanderers are every chance to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games.
First goalscorer value bets
Melbourne City – Aaron Mooy ($9.50 at Sportsbet)
With six goals and seven assists, the 25-year-old Socceroo is the most dangerous midfielder in the competition right now. Having missed through injury last weekend, he’d love to announce his return with a goal or two against his old club.
Western Sydney Wanderers – Mitch Nichols ($12 at Sportsbet)
After a few lean years, Nichols has rediscovered his touch in front of the sticks in a big way. He leads the WSW scoring charts this season with six goals, so odds of $12 to bag the first of the night at AAMI Park look like an absolute steal.
More 2015-16 A-League fixtures and odds
Friday, January 8, 2016
Central Coast Mariners – $6.20
Melbourne Victory – $1.53
Draw – $4.25
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Sydney FC – $1.43
Newcastle Jets – $8
Draw – $4.40
Perth Glory – $2.94
Adelaide United – $2.52
Draw – $3.30
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Wellington Phoenix – $3.80
Brisbane Roar – $1.92
Draw – $3.60
Odds provided by www.CrownBet.com
