2025/26 A-League Round 1

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Melbourne Victory vs Auckland FC Tips & Predictions - Another low-scoring game between Victory and Auckland on the cards

Andrew Hendrie

Editor

Last updated: Fri 17 Oct 2025 02:38

Andrew Hendrie 17 Oct 2025

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Melbourne Victory vs Auckland FC predictions for Saturday's A-League R1 game
Under 2.5 goals has landed in all four previous meetings between the teams
Auckland have seen Under 2.5 goals in four of their last five A-League games
Victory have seen Under 2.5 goals in four of their last five A-League games
The match is scheduled for kick off at 7.35pm AEDT on Saturday October 18

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Melbourne Victory Auckland FC A-League Men

Victory host Auckland on Saturday (Photo by Getty Images)

Melbourne Victory vs Auckland FC Tips & Predictions

It's a rematch of last season's semi-finals as Melbourne Victory and Auckland FC collide at AAMI Park in A-League Round 1 action on Saturday night.

Melbourne Victory vs Auckland FC Tips & Predictions
Head To Head
Melbourne Victory Form
Melbourne Victory Team News
Auckland FC Form
Auckland Team News

Revenge will be on Auckland's mind - after securing a 1-0 advantage on the road, they failed to capitalise on their home ground advantage in the second leg, falling 2-0 and seeing their dreams of completing the minor premiership/Grand Final double evaporate. Victory meanwhile also ultimately suffered heartbreak, going down to rivals Melbourne City in the Grand Final the following week.

Both teams will be wanting to kick off this season on a high, but a share of the spoils could play out at AAMI Park. All four previous meetings between the sides have been cagey, with Under 2.5 goals landing on each occasion. With the usual player movement and the time it takes to settle/form combinations, both teams might not be at their best here. The draw looks the value bet in the H2H market.

Head To Head

The first ever meeting between these sides on New Year's Day resulted in a 0-0 draw before Auckland prevailed 2-0 in April. Auckland then proceeded to win the first leg of their semi-final showdown 1-0 before Victory turned the tables with a 2-0 triumph at Go Media Stadium to advance into the final.

Melbourne Victory Form

Victory finished last season in fifth spot on the ladder before navigating past the Wanderers and Auckland to make the Grand Final - where they were undone by an early goal against Melbourne City, falling 1-0.

After falling 3-0 to Wrexham in a friendly, Victory were stunned 4-3 in extra-time by Olympic Kingsway in the Australia Cup R32, suffering elimination at the first hurdle.

It's hard to say at this stage which direction Victory are going to head this term.

Arthur Diles' side have lost lots of key players, including Kasey Bos, Daniel Arzani, Ryan Teague, Mitch Langerak, Bruno Fornaroli and Zinedine Machach, while they don't appear to have signed the same quality in Denis Genreau, Keegan Jelacic, Louis D’Arrigo and Jason Davidson.

Melbourne Victory Team News

Melbourne Victory squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 35. Malik OLUKHALE, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 64. Juan MATA

Auckland FC Form

It was a dream debut season in the A-League for Auckland - they surged to the minor premiership with just three defeats from their 26 games.

However, Auckland couldn't keep that momentum going into the finals series, falling over two legs to Victory in the semi-finals.

It was looking like a successful first Australia Cup campaign for Auckland after they beat Sydney FC on their way to the semi-finals, but they again came unstuck in the final four when they lost 2-0 to Heidelberg.

Steve Corica has kept the bulk of last season's squad, but Alex Paulsen, Max Mata, Tommy Smith and Neyder Moreno have all departed, with Sam Cosgrove, Oli Sail and Lachlan Brook arriving.

Auckland Team News

Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 3. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 9. Sam COSGROVE, 10. Guillermo MAY, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 16. Adama COULIBALY, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 18. Finn MCKENLAY, 20. Oli SAIL, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL. 27. Logan ROGERSON, 43. Ryan MACKAY, 77. LACHLAN Brook

Verdict

Melbourne Victory v Auckland FC

All four previous meetings between the sides have been low-scoring, so Under 2.5 goals is the main play for this season opener.

Tough to split these sides to begin the season, so a draw offers value in the H2H market.

Under 2.5

Total Goals

$1.97 - 2 Units

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Draw

H2H

$3.40 - 1 Unit

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