Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory Prediction: Victory to pile pressure on top-four rivals

A 2-1 loss at Wellington Phoenix last weekend has consigned Western Sydney Wanderers to a bottom-of-the-table finish for the first time in their Australian A-League history. Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, confirmed a top-six spot with a 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle Jets, but they will be targeting a third or fourth-place finish that would bring with it a home Elimination Final.

Below are my Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of Saturday’s game at CommBank Stadium (10:35 BST, TNT Sports 9).

Team News

Jacob Farrell (groin) is Western Sydney Wanderers' only absentee.

Football Odds

Melbourne Victory have a fully-fit squad, with Juan Mata returning from two games out with an elbow injury.

Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory Odds

Western Sydney Wanderers, winless in their last six games (D1, L5), are 21/10 to claim their first victory since 28 February, and a first one at home since 25 January. Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory, without a win this month (D2, L1), are EVS, or a 50% chance, to pick up three points.

The draw is offered at 11/4, both teams to score at 23/20, and over 2.5 total goals at 1/2.

Price Boosts - Ryan Fraser (WSW) To Score Anytime @ 15/8 9/4

Ryan Fraser's contract at the Wanderers only runs until the end of the season, so this could be his final game for the club, and final game in Australian football.

The 32-year-old will be eager to end the campaign in style before potentially pursuing a move back to Europe.

Today's Football Fixtures

Fraser made an immediate impact after signing from Southampton in January, scoring in his first two appearances, and he found the net in his fourth and sixth games, too.

He hasn't scored in any of his last five appearances, but he provided an assist in the first two of those, and in the third, he was taken off at half-time due to injury, making his return as a late substitute in a 2-0 Sydney derby defeat on 11 April.

The former Scotland international recorded three shots in last weekend's 2-1 loss at Wellington Phoenix, hitting the target twice, so he's been getting close to his fifth A-League strike, and I think it could happen for him on Saturday.

Match Result - Melbourne Victory @ 1/1

Victory need to avoid defeat to move up to fourth place, but any positive result for Melbourne City or Sydney FC on Sunday would see Arthur Diles' side go back down to fifth or sixth and see them miss out on a home Elimination Final.

So, really, Victory need to win in Sydney to stand a realistic chance of making the top four.

All the motivation is with the away team at CommBank Stadium, while the hosts cannot move up or down as they have already been handed the dreaded wooden spoon.

Victory won 2-1 here in the Elimination Finals last season, and after going down 1-0 at home to the Wanderers in January, they will be desperate to exact revenge on Saturday.

Gary van Egmond's Wanderers have lost their last four games, and I'm predicting a fifth to end a torrid campaign.

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