Western United vs Melbourne Victory Prediction: Basement boys to boost A-League aspirations

Western United will aim to continue their second half of the season resurgence on Thursday (KO, 08:00) when they host Melbourne Victory in the Australian A-League Men's at AAMI Park.

Below we have previewed the TNT Sports-televised clash, detailing the latest team news and match odds, as well as offering our Western United vs Melbourne Victory prediction.

The hosts have been stuck at the bottom of the ladder for a considerable period of time but three wins in their last five has hoisted them to within a point of 11th-placed Adelaide United ahead of their clash with top-two chasers Victory.

Team News

Western United will enter round 21 of the 2023/24 A-League Men's campaign with an unchanged 20-man extended squad, which will be whittled down to 18 for Thursday.

Green and Black head coach Josh Aloisi could name an unchanged starting XI after a 3-1 win at Western Sydney Wanderers, though their second-half fightback was inspired by substitute Matthew Grimaldi who scored their equaliser 12 minutes after his introduction. Veteran striker Nikita Rukavytsya also found the net after beginning the game on the bench and will be eyeing a rare start.

Melbourne Victory boss Tony Popovic has made two additions to his extended squad with Adama Traore and Stefan Nigro back in after missing Saturday's 2-1 win at Adelaide United.

Midfielder Ryan Teague remains sidelined with a leg injury for the Boys in Blue.

Match Odds

Despite back-to-back wins at AAMI Park the hosts are 7/2 to claim three points on Thursday, with a win for the visitors priced at 8/13. The draw can be backed at 11/4, both teams to score is 8/13 and over 2.5 goals, which has landed in the last two meetings between these sides, is available at 4/7.

Western United or draw @ 23/20

The double chance on Western United looks good value considering their recent form, particularly at AAMI Park where they have beaten Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory in the past month.

Granted, those two clubs are in the bottom half of the table, but Victory only narrowly beat a struggling Adelaide United side last week, and suffered back-to-back defeats to the Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Roar prior to that.

It will be a familiar venue for the Dark Blues on Thursday as Victory also play their home games at AAMI Park, but it's their home form which has actually dragged them down this season, with six teams collecting more points on their own turf, albeit the majority have played more games.

Victory have won the same number of games away from home (4/12) but just one of those has come in their last six. They can consider themselves fortunate to won the last meeting between these sides, with Western United leading until the 95th minute before two goals from defender Damien Da Silva took the game away from them in dramatic fashion.

With Western United within touching distance of 11th, I think they will be hugely motivated to achieve a positive result in Melbourne on Thursday.

Daniel Penha to score anytime @ 5/2

Much like his loan club, the Brazilian endured a slow start to the season, but it's his heroics that have helped to change their fortunes.

The 25-year-old has six goals in 19 A-League Men's appearances since joining on a temporary basis from Atletico Mineiro last summer, with five of them coming in his last eight outings.

What's more, United have only lost one of the six games he has scored in - ironically, their reverse fixture with Victory last month.

Penha had a hand in all three goals last week as he laid on two either side of his strike, and I think he will take that confidence into his next match.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.