Sydney FC vs Melbourne City Prediction: Sky Blues to sink City further into the mire

Two of the most successful clubs in the history of the Australian A-League Men’s meet at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday (KO, 06:30), as Melbourne City travel to Sydney FC.

The hosts have been crowned champions a record five times and also have the most Premiership titles (four), but haven’t lifted either since 2020.

Melbourne City, meanwhile, are the current Premiership holders, but have endured a torrid 2023-24 campaign thus far and currently sit two places and four points behind their next opponents, who occupy fifth after a five-game unbeaten run.

Team News

Ufuk Talay has welcomed defender Joel King back into his squad after a six-week absence, though the game comes too soon for the likes of Jack Rodwell, Aaron Gurd and Pat Wood.

The Sydney FC head coach could name an unchanged starting XI after last week’s 2-1 win over Adelaide United, with Max Burgess having to settle for a place on the bench again.

Melbourne City will be forced to make at least one alteration to the side that started their derby day draw with Melbourne Victory, though. Left-back Scott Galloway was forced from the pitch just before the hour-mark due to a calf complaint, an injury which will see him miss the next few weeks of action.

New signing Vicente Fernandez made his debut as a replacement for Galloway in that game, and the Chilean will now make his first start in a City shirt.

Other potential additions to the starting XI include midfielder Terry Antonis and wing duo Marin Jakolis and Leo Natel.

Match Odds

Sydney FC are 4/5 to win a fifth-straight game at home, with the draw at 11/4 and a first win for Melbourne City since January 25 priced at 5/2.

Both of these sides have seen over 3.5 goals land in three of their last five matches, and it’s EVS for it to happen again this weekend.

Sydney FC to win and both teams to score – Yes @ 9/5

The Sky Blues have won six of their last nine games, losing just once in that period, and look well on course to achieve a top-six finish.

Melbourne City, on the other hand, have won just once in their last six, losing four of them, and have come away with nothing from their last three away trips. The last two have seen them concede a combined nine goals against sides below them in the table, Brisbane Roar (5-1) and Perth Glory (4-2).

They can take some confidence from the fact that they have scored at least once in their last six on the road, while Sydney have only kept one clean sheet at home this season.

However, Talay’s side should have enough to win the game and consign the visitors to a fifth defeat of the calendar year.

Over 11.5 corners @ EVS

Total corners in Sydney’s last five games read as follows (from latest to earliest) – 12, 12, 10, 13, 13. That averages at 12 per game over that period.

Total corners in Melbourne City’s last nine, meanwhile, read as eight, 13, 12, 11, 11, 11, 13, 16, 13. That averages at exactly 12 per game, too.

Therefore, the EVS price on over 11.5 corners in Saturday’s game is certainly appealing, added to the fact that seven of Sydney’s eight home matches have all seen 12+ corners land.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.