Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC Prediction: Goal fest in The Big Blue?

Melbourne Victory will be looking to get back on the winning trail on Friday (KO, 08:45), when they host Sydney FC in the final 'Big Blue' clash of the regular Australian A-League Men's season.

The Big Blue marks a game between the competition's most supported and most successful clubs, in the country's two largest cities - Melbourne and Sydney.

Victory hold the bragging rights this season after winning 2-0 in Sydney in the first round back in October before outclassing their rivals 3-0 at AAMI Park - where the next encounter takes place - in December.

Tony Popovic's side are currently second but level on points with leaders Wellington Phoenix, whom they drew 1-1 with last Friday to record back-to-back scorelines.

Sydney, meanwhile, thrashed Newcastle Jets 4-0 last week to move into sixth, the final playoff position.

Team News

Melbourne Victory are still without the division's top goalscorer in Bruno Fornaroli, who has missed his side's last three games as a result of his participation in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup with Australia.

The home side could hand a debut to Swiss-Tunisian forward Salim Khelifi, who has joined on loan from Perth Glory for the remainder of the season.

Sydney will be without Joel King, Robert Mak and Jack Rodwell again, with the trio missing the Sky Blues' last two games through injury.

Brazilian attacker Fabio Gomes will be pushing for a start after dropping to the bench against Newcastle Jets, but the five-goal ace may find it tough to shift Patrick Wood, whose fine finish opened the scoring against the Jets.

Match Odds

Melbourne Victory are 23/20 to record a third straight win over Sydney, who are 9/5 to claim all three points for themselves. The draw can be backed at 5/2, while both teams to score - Yes is 4/9.

Over 3.5 goals @ 11/8

There haven't been more than three goals in this fixture since Victory won 3-2 at the Sydney Football Stadium in October 2022, but the away side's recent results suggest that there could be more goals in the offing on Friday.

Four of Sydney's last five games have seen over 3.5 goals land, with one producing seven and another seeing six scored.

Victory have generally kept a solid defence this term, but they've been involved in a few crazy matches themselves, including one at the start of the year as they edged out Perth Glory 3-2. Other notable scorelines include a 5-3 win over the Jets and a 4-3 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, and a 2-2 draw with Central Coast Mariners.

Half-time both teams to score - Yes @ 5/2

Continuing the goal theme, both teams to score before half-time is backable at 5/2.

Sydney have scored at least one in the first half of their last five games, with the opposition finding the net before half-time in three of those.

Meanwhile, Victory have eight first half goals to their name in just five matches, only failing to strike before the interval against Adelaide United.

If there's one league to back for BTTS - Yes before half-time, it's the Australian A-League Men's.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.