Western United vs Melbourne Victory Predictions

• Five of the last six H2Hs saw both teams score and over 2.5 total goals.
• Western United have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine matches.
• Melbourne have not kept a clean sheet in 18 straight games ahead of this match.

High-octane opener on the cards between two poor outfits

It is always difficult to predict how sides are going to play on the first day of a new season, but this clash looks like a brilliant one for goals. Indeed, Western United’s league games last season returned 2.96 total goals per-match on average while Melbourne’s saw a league-high 3.5, which informs the over 2.5 goals part of the main prediction here. Not only this, Melbourne came and annihilated Western 6-1 in their most recent visit here, a win which meant the home side on the day is winless in four meetings.

Both sides appointed new managers during the off-season, Western United brought in former Melbourne academy manager John Aloisi while Melbourne have appointed Anthony Popovic. This is key as both teams scored in 12 of the 14 prior touchline meetings between the new bosses. Notably though, it is Melbourne coach Popovic who leads the all-time H2H standings between the managers (W7, D3, L4) which is why I am predicting Melbourne to come out on top in a high-scoring encounter.

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