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The first game of the 2024/25 Australian A League season sees the defending champions the Central Coast Mariners taking on last season’s third place side Melbourne Victory at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford, Australia.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 18th October, 2024: UK – 9:35am / US ET – 4:35am / US PT – 1:35am
HOW TO WATCH/STREAM: UK – YouTube / US – ESPN / Australia – Paramount+
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT
Over the off season, the Central Coast Mariners have lost a couple of key first-teamers with Ronald Barcellos joining Portimonense and left-back Jacob Farrell moving to Championship side Portsmouth.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Pavlesic; Roux, Kaltack, Paull, Mauragis; Theoharous, Tapp, McCalmont, Doka; Brandtman, Kuol
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
MELBOURNE VICTORY TEAM NEWS: NO INJURIES
Since the 2023/24 campaign, the Melbourne Victory have brought in some intriguing talent such as Santos from AEK Larnakas and Nikos Vergos from Atromitos Athens. Experienced goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak has also signed for the Victory.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Langerak; Geria, Hamill, Roderick, Bos; Teague, Machach, Valadon; Velupillay, Vergos, Piscorpo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS VS MELBOURNE VICTORY PREDICTION
The Central Coast Mariners are the defending Australian champions and remain very strong ahead of this campaign. In the AFC Champions League, which began last month, CCM have started with back-to-back losses against Shandong Taishan and then Buriram United. Melbourne Victory’s pre-league season has also been a little underwhelming, eventually losing the Australia Cup final at home to Macarthur a few weeks ago. Central Coast Mariners, with home advantage, looks a good bet for this one.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS VS MELBOURNE VICTORY TIP: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS TO WIN