Melbourne Victory FC vs Central Coast Mariners

Match details. A-League, Regular Season - 3. Kick-off is Sun 1 Nov, 05:00 Lagos time. It is played at AAMI Park, Melbourne.

What's at stake. Melbourne Victory FC are 9th on 1 point after 2 games, 1 point behind Newcastle Jets, level on points with Central Coast Mariners. A win would take them above Newcastle Jets. Central Coast Mariners are 10th on 1 point after 2 games, level on points with Melbourne Victory, 1 point clear of Adelaide United. A win would take them above Melbourne Victory.

Team news. Melbourne Victory FC are without L. D'Arrigo (inactive), L. D'Arrigo (inactive). Central Coast Mariners are without T. Hisamatsu (inactive), T. Sainsbury (achilles tendon injury), T. Hisamatsu (inactive), T. Sainsbury (achilles tendon injury).

Form. Melbourne Victory FC have won four, drawn three and lost three of their last ten, 1.5 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L D L W D. In this competition Melbourne Victory FC have gone D L L W D. Central Coast Mariners have won two, drawn four and lost four of their last ten, 1.0 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L D L W D. In this competition Central Coast Mariners have gone L D L W D L.

The numbers. Melbourne Victory FC score 1.6 and concede 0.9 a game over their last ten, with four clean sheets and two games without a goal. Melbourne Victory FC average 14.2 shots (4.0 on target), 6.2 corners and 0.8 cards a game, with 52% of the ball. Central Coast Mariners score one and concede 2.2 a game in their last six away, with one clean sheet and two games without a goal. Central Coast Mariners average 11.6 shots (4.2 on target), 2.9 corners and 2.0 cards a game, with 46% of the ball.

Head to head. In the last nine meetings Melbourne Victory FC have won three, drawn three and lost three. Four of the nine went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in four. In the last four, Melbourne Victory FC won two, one was drawn and Central Coast Mariners won one. The last time they met, on 21 Mar 2026, it finished Melbourne Victory FC 4-1 Central Coast Mariners: Melbourne Victory FC had 34 shots to 13, 57% of the ball, one yellow card.

Where it pulls both ways. The prices and the records disagree: the odds board makes it 72% against the records' 38%.

The read. No firm call: Melbourne Victory FC are the better side, but not at this price. A tight game. Their goals for and against make Melbourne Victory FC the likelier winners; Melbourne Victory FC are the stronger side on form and the table. Their goals for and against point to a tight game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 49%. Five of the last nine meetings went under 2.5.

The bets. Best bet: Under 3.5 Goals at 1.61, 72% on the records (Melbourne Victory FC: under 3.5 goals in 4 of 5; Central Coast Mariners: under 3.5 goals in 3 of 6 away). The safer one: Central Coast Mariners Under 1.5 Goals at 1.24 (74%). Backup: Under 5.5 Goals at 1.09. It often rescues the bet, but it is no guarantee. Leave: Over 0.5 Goals (no overs on a tight read). Predicted score: Melbourne Victory FC 1-1 Central Coast Mariners (12% chance).