On January 10 at 16:35, the Australian Super League will see a match between Melbourne Victory and Western United in Game 001 on Friday.
Melbourne Victory has performed well in the 24/25 season A-League, with 2 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses, averaging 2.33 points per game, currently ranking second in the league. Key players such as Francesco Fornaroli, Machach, and Verghese have strong attacking abilities, serving as the backbone of the team's offense. The defensive players are also not to be underestimated, like central defender Max Burgess, who played steadily in defense against Western Sydney Wanderers and even scored a crucial goal from a corner kick. Head coach Patrick Kisnorbo emphasizes defensive counterattacks. In the match against Western Sydney Wanderers, he used a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a dense midfield defense and sharp counterattacks to achieve a comeback.
After six matches in the 24-25 season A-League, Western United has 1 win, 2 draws, and 3 losses, accumulating 5 points and ranking 10th in the standings. Forwards Yosuke Kawai and Noah Bothe have some attacking capabilities, but the overall state of the forward line is unstable. Defenders Tate Russell, Kane Widdrington, and Tomoki Iwata have decent defensive abilities, but the overall consistency and stability of the defense need improvement. Coach Mark Rudan values short passing among players, with the team's tactics mainly based on a 4-3-3 formation. They will change formations according to the situation, shifting to a 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 for defense and a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 for offense.
Melbourne Victory ranks fourth in the league, with 2 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss in their last six games. They have won three, drawn two, and lost one in their last six home games, demonstrating strong home court advantage, especially at AAMI Park. Given their stable tactics and strong attacking power from key players, Melbourne Victory is expected to win against Western United with a score of 3-1 or 2-0.