The following is a preview with betting tips for the Grand Final of the 2024/25 A-Leagues Mens season.
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Melbourne City vs Melbourne VictorySaturday May 31, 7:40pm AAMI Park |
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Match Details;
Where to watch – CH10, 10 BOLD, 10 Play and Paramount +
Where to buy tickets – Ticketek (members of each respective club get first priority)
In just five days time quite possibly the biggest Grand Final in A-League history will be upon us, as Melbourne City take on the Melbourne Victory in an all-unprecedented Melbourne Derby decider. The hosts are chasing a second-ever championship as they compete in their fifth decider over the course of the last six campaigns. Whilst the older brother in Victoria are aiming to become the equal most successful club in the country with a fifth championship. To City’s credit they’ve won eight of their last 11 games at home + two stalemates. Whilst the last time the Victory lost to an Australian side was way back in March of this year. Since then they have posted a very impressive five victories from eight affairs. There’s plenty to look forward to as the two arch-rivals collide in what is undoubtedly going to be a ‘Big Dance’ for the ages.
The high pressure intensity of a decider can get to you and it spares no teams, both Melbourne sides included. When Aurelio Vidmar’s (Patrick Kisnorbo at the time) Men last played in a Grand Final they were severely beaten 6-1 by the Mariners at CommBank Stadium. Whilst for Arthur Diles’s (Tony Popovic at the time) troops they were edged out 3-1 also by the Central Coast at Industree Group Stadium in extra time. Both nemesis are aiming to right the wrongs of the past, but that is easier said than done and there can only be one winner.
It needs to go right for City in DEFENCE – Despite comfortably disposing of Western United 4-1 on aggregate at AAMI Park over the course of their two-legged semifinal series, their back five left a lot to be desired. In the second leg they allowed the ‘Green & Black’ to shoot 7/11 on target and for United marksmen Noah Botic to score on his return from injury. In a game where the Victory will posses plenty of capable attacking threats such as Bruno Fornaroli (a goal in his sides second legged semifinal last weekend and 112 A-League strikes throughout his career) and Daniel Arzani (17 assists in the A-League over the last three seasons) just to name a few, City’s defensive house needs to be in order. And a massive part of that will be young Goalkeeper and Australia U23 International Patrick Beach. Over the course of his last five games he’s saved 6/7 shots, 4/4, 3/4, 2/2 and 4/6. He’s ultimately the last Man standing between the sticks against the experienced stars shooting before him.
It needs to go right for the Victory in ATTACK – As mentioned above, the Victory have no shortage of capable attacking options. But with Socceroos Forward Nishan Velupillay currently in a moonboot, now more than ever players like Fornaroli and Arzani will need to take centre stage. It’s highly likely this will be Fornaroli’s last game for the club, so he’ll want to go out with a bang. Whilst Arzani still has the chance to boost himself up into the European shop window if he hasn’t already. For the Victory, winning this game would mean so much more then just beating their rivals, there are countless individualised reasons as well. Once plying his trade for City, then Celtic and now the Victory, Arzani struggled in his sides first game versus Auckland but came to life in the second. He is quite possibly the make or break player for the Victory in the Grand Final. The same goes to Marco Tillio for City, another ex-Celtic Attacker who’s locked down five goals + five assists to date this season.
Sit down, grab your popcorn and enjoy, because this one will be as entertaining as it is spicy!!!
Betting tips: Look for City to win at $2.20 (Dabble, Bet365)
Also look for the ‘Cityzens’ to score first at $1.72 (Bet365)
Both teams should also score 1+ goal a piece at $1.65 (BoomBet, Dabble)
Additionally also back there to be over 2.5 goals at $1.80 (Bet365)
Whilst you can also back the total corners to be 9+ at $1.40 (Bet365)