Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Melbourne Victory sit tucked inside the top-half of the 13-team Australian A League table as they prepare to take on last season’s regular season runners’ up Wellington Phoenix this week.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 14th February, 2025: UK – 8:35am / US ET – 3:35am / US PT – 12:35am
How to watch on TV/online: UK – YouTube / US – ESPN / Australia – Paramount+
Melbourne Victory Team News: Fully fit
Melbourne Victory have a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s clash with the Wellington Phoenix with no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven ahead of the visit of the New Zealanders.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Langerak; Traore, Roderick, Hamill, Rawlins; Teague, Valadon; Rodrigues, Machach, Velupillay; Vergos
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Wellington Phoenix Team News: A few issues
Unlike their opponents, the Wellington Phoenix are dealing with a few absentees including key wingers Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues and Marco Rojas as well as striker Stefan Colakovski, whilst club captain Alex Rufer also remains sidelined for ‘The Nix’.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Peraic-Cullen; Piper, Hughes, Wootton, Sutton; Retre, Sheridan; Ishige, Nagasawa, Kelly-Heald; Barbarouses
Unavailable: Rufer (Illness), Sloane-Rodrigues (Injured), Rojas (Injured), Colakovski (Injured)
Questionable:
Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix Prediction
Last weekend, the Melbourne Victory suffered a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle Jets with the goals coming in the 99th, 104th and 120 minutes. The game was suspended mid-way through the second-half due to a medical incident in the crowd. They take on a Wellington Phoenix side that have massively regressed this season after finishing second in the A-League as they sit in the bottom-half having earned just five wins so far this season. Melbourne Victory will expect to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat and, with home advantage, are favourites for this one.
Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix Tip: Melbourne Victory to win