Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory Predictions

• Both teams have scored in six of the last ten Melbourne City home A-League games
• Melbourne Victory have scored five goals and conceded five in their four A-League games to date this season
• Melbourne City have dominated this derby in recent years, but were held to a 1-1 draw the last time the sides met in June.

Victory can score as champions look shaky at the back 

The A-League Premiers and champions will host Melbourne Victory in the first derby meeting of the season on Saturday, but City might not have things all their own way this time.

Patrick Kisnorbo’s side won virtually all of their meaningful games from mid-April onwards to clinch their first title, but have been some way off that form in the opening weeks of their defence.

They allowed Adelaide United to pull back from 2-0 down to claim a draw in their first away fixture then saw Western United, who finished 10th last season, hold on for a 1-0 win at AAMI Park a fortnight ago. Last week’s 1-0 home win over Perth Glory was a step in the right direction, but an attack that was firing at a rate of 2.2 goals per game last term has become stuck in second gear.

Popovic’s visitors have new talisman up front

Victory will come into this game with renewed confidence after their 2-1 win at Adelaide United last week, although they did lose experienced defender Jason Davidson, who will be suspended. Socceroos international Chris Ikonomidis could return from injury though to bolster a Boys in Blue attack that has been built around new recruit Francesco Margiotta.

The Italian, who bagged his first of the season last week, has the pedigree to suggest he could be a big fish in the A-League once he beds down. Victory could be in a good place to capitalise if City are not back to their best again and we forecast a tight encounter that will probably see both teams score.

Tony Popovic’s side have scored five goals and conceded five in their four A-League games to date this season, suggesting they are still vulnerable at the back while the majority of City’s home games, latterly, have seen both sides register. A 1-1 outcome similar to their last meeting in June, when Lleyton Brooks headed Victory’s a 95th-minute equaliser, is forecast here.

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