Auckland vs Melbourne City Preview: Team News & Prediction

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

In their first ever Australian A League campaign, Auckland had been extremely impressive to kick off the campaign but their form has majorly dropped off of late as they now prepare to take on the new league leaders, Melbourne City, this weekend.

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 18th January, 2025: UK – 4:00am / Friday 17th January, 2025: US ET – 11:00pm / US PT – 8:00pm

How to watch on TV/online: UK – YouTube / US – ESPN / Australia – Paramount+

Auckland Team News: No Hall or Howieson

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Paulsen; Sakai, Smith, Pijnaker, De Vries; Verstraete, Gallegos; Moreno, Brimmer, Gillion; May

Unavailable: Hall (Injured), Howieson (Injured)

Questionable: 

Melbourne City Team News: Injury crisis

Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Beach; Talbot, Trewin, Ferreyra, Behich; Mazzeo, Atkinson, Ugarkovic, Politidis; Rahmani; Memeti

Unavailable: Necovski (Injured), Jeggo (Injured), Kuen (Injured), Kuen (Injured), Lopane (Injured), Cohen (Injured), Leckie (Injured), Nabbout (Injured), Caputo (Injured)

Questionable: 

Auckland vs Melbourne City Prediction

In their first ever season as a club, Auckland put together an impressive squad and they have been league leaders for most of the campaign. However, the New Zealanders now come into this one on the back of a 1-0 defeat to struggling Perth Glory in Western Australia last weekend and they have now suffered just one win in their last five matches. They now face a Melbourne City side that have risen to the top-of-the-table with the Victorians edging past Brisbane Roar by a goal to nil last week to extend their winning streak to three matches. Given the form of the two sides, a double chance bet in favour of City looks the way to go for this one.

Auckland vs Melbourne City Tip: Double chance – Melbourne City to win or draw