"Starting with the hosts, embarking on what has become a public A-League nightmare this season, Melbourne City have rightfully come under a tremendous amount of scrutiny. With only their goal difference keeping them in the play-off places, Aureilo Vidmar's men have continued to show a string of glaring issues on either side of opening the New Year. Last seen making an immediate return to losing ways as they slumped to a shock 1-0 loss at home against Newcastle,"
"In fact, despite landing a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Brisbane earlier in the month, that is the only win that Melbourne have registered from any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions. Getting 2026 underway with a 0-0 stalemate against historic rivals Sydney, it should also be highlighted that Vidmar's downbeat squad have bagged just a single A-League strike in any of their last three straight outings."
"As for the visitors, embarking on what was an iconic maiden A-League campaign last season, Auckland certainly gained a fearsome reputation. Storming their way to domestic honours, Steve Corica's men have once again come flying out of the traps since opening up the 2025/26 campaign."
Melbourne City have endured a difficult A-League campaign, surviving in the play-off places only on goal difference. The squad has managed only one win in their last seven matches and scored a single A-League goal across their most recent three outings. A 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle followed a goalless draw with Sydney. Aureilo Vidmar faces mounting scrutiny as the team struggles for goals. Auckland have built on an impressive maiden campaign, winning 2-0 at Brisbane and ending 2025 with a 2-0 win over Western Sydney. Corica's side top the table with one defeat in 12 matches and 13 points from their last five away fixtures.
Read at Soccer News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]