Melbourne City vs Macarthur FC Tips & Predictions - Macarthur's slump to continue on the road

Macarthur's form has spiralled over the last month, coinciding with the club losing several key attackers in the transfer window. As a result, I'm backing City to secure all three points to continue their solid recent form, which has seen them win two of their last three games. City have some star players back on deck after injury troubles and are looking good to start cementing their spot inside the top six. Macarthur meanwhile are going in the opposite direction and it's now looking unlikely that they will feature in the finals. Macarthur have managed to score in 11 of their last 12 games, so they can find the back of the net in defeat, but City should ultimately prove too strong.

City won four games in a row between 2021-23, but Macarthur have gone unbeaten in the last four meetings, including a most-recent 1-0 triumph back in Round 16.

City have been ravaged by injuries to various key players throughout the season, but they're starting to come out the other side and their results are improving.

Indeed, City come into this encounter unbeaten in their last three games, defeating Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix 1-0 either side of a 2-2 draw in the Melbourne derby with Victory.

Those results have propelled City back into finals contention in fifth spot on the ladder - and such is the tight nature of the A-League, they could finish the weekend in second spot if they prevail here and other results go their way.

Andreas Kuen, Marco Tilio, Mat Leckie and Max Caputo are all firing again after injuries, but Yonatan Cohen remains sidelined for at least another week. James Jeggo is also in doubt, along with Steve Ugarkovic.

Australia Cup champions Macarthur were flying with some impressive form throughout the early stages of the season, but they've stagnated and it will take a big turnaround for them to get back into the finals picture.

Macarthur head into this showdown having lost five of their last eight games, including going winless in their last four.

Mile Sterjovski's side were hit hard in the recent transfer window, while their cause also wasn't helped with Valere Germain also departing. Macarthur have lost back-to-back matches coming into this encounter, going down 2-1 against the Wanderers and 2-0 to Sydney FC.

Kristian Popovic remains in doubt with a knee injury.