Melbourne City vs Central Coast Mariners Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Melbourne City are attempting to punch their way back towards the top end of the table ahead of facing a Central Coast Mariners side that finished at the top of last season’s regular season.

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 5th April, 2025: UK – 7:00am / US ET – 2:00am / Friday 4th April, 2025: US PT – 11:00pm

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

Melbourne City Team News: No Leckie

Mathew Leckie has joined Melbourne City’s injury list that includes fellow experienced Australia internationals James Jeggo and Andrew Nabbout. Back-up goalkeeper James Nieuwenhuizen is also now sidelined due to a knee injury.

Predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Beach; Atkinson, Ferreyra, Souprayen, Behich; Lopane, Trewin; Memeti, Tilio; Caputo, Kuen

Unavailable: Nieuwenhuizen (Injured), Necovski (Injured), Jeggo (Injured), Leckie (Injured), Nabbout (Injured)

Questionable: 

Central Coast Mariners Team News: Couple of injuries

There are no fresh injury concerns for the Central Coast Mariners this weekend as they make the trip to Victoria. They remain without defensive midfielder Brad Tapp as well as former Carlisle United and Leeds United striker Ryan Edmondson.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Peraic-Cullen; Kaltacj, Sainsbury, Paull; Doka, Steele, McCalmont, Mauragis; Vitor Feijao, Theoharous; Kuol

Unavailable: Tapp (Injured), Edmondson (Injured)

Questionable: 

Melbourne City vs Central Coast Mariners Prediction

Melbourne City, under the management of Aurelio Vidmar, come into this one on the back of a thrilling and entertaining 3-2 defeat of Sydney in New South Wales last weekend in a game in which they had to take the lead on three separate occasions. The Central Coast Mariners, on the other hand, have massively regressed this season as they hover down towards the bottom end of the table, albeit they did end their winless run with a 3-1 defeat of bottom-of-the-table Perth Glory last weekend. Despite that, though, Melbourne City are the team to be sided with in this one, especially with their home advantage.

Melbourne City vs Central Coast Mariners Tip: Double chance – Melbourne City to win or draw