Aust. A-League
2025-05-24 - Auckland FC vs Melbourne Victory
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football : Australia: A-League
Venue: Go Media Stadium
Saturday 24th May 2025, 0700hrs (GMT)
Auckland FC bounced back from a previous 4-2 loss away from home at Western United when the New Zealand outfit registered a welcome 1-0 win away from home at play-off rivals Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park last weekend to hand the upcoming hosts a valuable 1-0 lead ahead of this return leg.
Auckland FC had previously finished top of the A-League table by a five-point margin over runners-up Melbourne City but the Kiwi hosts now need to navigate their way through the play-offs if they are to claim the ultimate prize of Grand Final winners.
Nevertheless, Auckland produced what could prove to be a tie-winning performance in the 1st leg and the hosts will now be looking to put the 2nd leg to bed with a win at the Go Media Stadium and having suffered just the single defeat within their last 16 matches overall in the A-League, Steve Corica’s side will be in confident mood.
Melbourne Victory ended the regular A-League season in 5th place in the table and 10 points behind their upcoming opponents who hold a 1-0 lead with home advantage in this return leg.
Recent form has been reasonable enough without setting the world alight where Melbourne Victory have been concerned as the visitors have slipped to just three losses within their previous 12 matches overall along with picking up six wins in the process.
Three of these six victories have been achieved on their travels with wins gained at Wellington Phoenix, Macarthur and Western Sydney Wanderers respectively, but results away from home in recent times has been something of a mixed bag for Arthur Diles’s side.
Indeed, The Victory have won four but lost four of their last 10 away games in the A-League.
The Betting Verdict
Auckland FC are unbeaten in each of their previous three meetings against Melbourne Victory, picking up two wins.
The Pick :
Auckland FC 2-1 Melbourne Victory
