Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory Prediction

Mixed form away from the league table

Adelaide United's most recent matches have come in continental and friendly fixtures rather than the league itself. They beat Wofoo Tai Po 3-0 in the AFC Champions League Two but lost at home in their Champions League Elite outing, and their friendly results against Perth Glory have gone one win and one defeat. Across their wider sample of 20 games this year they've won nine, drawn six and lost five, scoring 37 and conceding 24, though that's built across several different competitions.

Adelaide United: 20 completed matches; Melbourne Victory: 20 completed matches.

Adelaide United

20 matches

Win

50% 10 / 20

Draw

30% 6 / 20

Loss

20% 4 / 20

Scored

37

Conceded

22

Difference

+15

Melbourne Victory

20 matches

Win

45% 9 / 20

Draw

40% 8 / 20

Loss

15% 3 / 20

Scored

37

Conceded

19

Difference

+18

Melbourne Victory's picture looks similar. Their Australia Cup run included a heavy 4-0 defeat away at non-league opposition before tighter results followed, and their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw away at Viettel in the AFC Champions League Two. Over their own 20-game sample they've won nine, drawn seven and lost four, with 38 scored and 20 conceded, marginally the tighter defensive record of the two.

Neither side's recent run translates directly into league sharpness, given how few of these matches were actual A-League games.

Comparative Team Statistics: Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory

A fixture with history, split fairly evenly

These two have met plenty of times in recent seasons, mostly in the A-League with the odd Australia Cup tie mixed in. The last three meetings have gone three different ways: Adelaide winning at home in January, Victory winning by a single goal in December, and a 1-1 draw at Victory's place back in February. Earlier meetings have thrown up some big scorelines too, including a 5-3 Victory win and a heavy Adelaide win further back, so goals have tended to flow when these two get together.

Recent meetings have been close, with neither side pulling clear in this rivalry lately.

Jovanović and Mata carry the attacking threat

Adelaide's main source of goals has been L. Jovanović, who has 11 in 24 appearances this year, comfortably their top scorer. Y. Dukuly and J. Yull have supplied most of the assists behind him. On the fitness side, J. Kwaaitaal is listed as a doubt with an injury concern, though that's one name on a watchlist rather than confirmation he'll actually miss out.

Adelaide United:

Best scorers:

L. Jovanović - 11

Best assist providers:

Y. Dukuly - 7

J. Yull - 5

E. Alagich - 4

Penalty cards:

L. Jovanović x 1 x 3

P. Madanha x 1

D. Pierias x 1

Injury list:

J. Kwaaitaal

Melbourne Victory:

Best scorers:

N. Vergos - 7

Clarismario Rodrigues - 6

Mata - 5

Best assist providers:

Mata - 12

D. Genreau - 5

Penalty cards:

D. Genreau x 1 x 4

J. Davidson x 7

For Melbourne Victory, N. Vergos and Clarismario Rodrigues have chipped in with seven and six goals respectively, but it's Mata who stands out as the creative hub with 12 assists in 25 games, easily the most of anyone involved in this fixture.

Plenty of football still to come before kickoff

This preview is being put together about a month before the match itself, so there's time yet for both squads to freshen up. Given how much of the recent sample for both clubs has come from cup and continental football rather than the league, it's hard to draw firm conclusions about where either side stands heading into matchday.