Auckland vs Melbourne Victory Preview: Team News & Prediction

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In their first ever season as a club, Auckland sit at the top-of-the-table in the Australian A League as the New Zealanders now prepare to take on a strong Melbourne Victory side.

Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 1st January, 2025: UK – 4:00am / Tuesday 31st December, 2024: US ET – 11:00pm / US PT – 8:00pm

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

Auckland Team News: No Hall or Howeison

There are no fresh injury concerns for Auckland to deal with this weekend but they do have a couple of absentees as centre-back Dylan Hall deals with a broken ankle, whilst former Burnley midfielder Cameron Howieson is also sidelined due to injury.

Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Paulsen; Sakai, Smith, Pijnaker, De Vries; Moreno, Verstraete, Gallegos, Gillion; Brimmer; May

Unavailable: Hall (Injured), Howieson (Injured)

Questionable: 

Melbourne Victory Team News: Machach suspension

The Melbourne Victory have no injury concerns to deal with as they make the trip to Auckland on New Year’s Day. They are, though, without forward Zach Machach after his red card he picked up against Sydney the other day.

Predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Duncan; Geria, Hamill, Roderick, Bos; Teague, Valadon; Arzani, Piscopo; Fornaroli, Sloane Rodrigues

Unavailable: Machach (Suspended)

Questionable: 

Auckland vs Melbourne Victory Prediction

Auckland come into this one on the back of a 4-1 demolition of the Central Coast Mariners in their most recent outing at the Central Coast Stadium at the weekend. That leaves them at the top-of-the-table after recovering from their first loss of the season to Western United the weekend before. They now face a Melbourne Victory side that have been strong themselves this season as they push towards the top end of the table but they were hammered 3-0 by Sydney the other day and Auckland, especially with their home advantage, would appear the firm favourites for this one.

Auckland vs Melbourne Victory Tip: Double chance – Auckland to win or draw