Bitesize Prediction: Melbourne City vs Western Sydney Wanderers – 12/01/24

Competition: A-League

Market: Melbourne City win

Odds: 6/5 @ Pribet

Smelling the chance to make another A-League statement on Friday morning, Melbourne City will welcome Western Sydney to AAMI Park.

Starting with the hosts, although Melbourne might have a real scrap on their hands to defend their A-League crown this season, the Sky Blues are enjoying a recent purple patch. Signing off 2023 with a famous performance at AAMI Park as they stormed their way to an 8-1 romp against Brisbane, Aurelio Vidmar’s side will be looking to make another domestic statement here. Last seen putting in another eye-catching display as they secured a 2-1 victory away at Western United, Melbourne are unbeaten in all of their previous eight straight appearances across all competitions – a run that stems all the way back to November 25th. Rightfully tipped as a standout contender on Friday morning, the reigning Australian champions will also be excited by a rampant record against the A-League strugglers. Landing a 3-2 win when they last welcomed Western Sydney to AAMI Park nine months ago, Vidmar’s side have not suffered a single loss against this weekend’s guests since September 2018.

As for the visitors, while Western Sydney might have opened up the New Year with a 3-1 victory at home against Macarthur, Marko Rudan’s side came crashing back down to earth last weekend. Putting in a toothless performance as they suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Central Coast, the Wanderers are desperate to claim some recent stability. Winning just a pair of their previous six A-League appearances, the former Western United boss will also have a mounting headache over his side’s extended issues away from the CommBank Stadium. Last seen on their travels slumping to a deserved 2-0 defeat against Wellington, Friday’s guests have won just one of their last seven A-League away fixtures continuing on from last season. Slipping down the table and failing to muster a single top-flight victory against Melbourne since way back in September 2018, we are expecting an enjoyable home win for the defending champions this weekend.

Bet: Melbourne City 6/5 to beat Western Sydney Wanderers in Friday’s A-League matchup @ Pribet