Saturday’s only A-League Round 12 match is between Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 7.45pm with the game to be played at AAMI Park. The home team Melbourne Victory are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers.

Round: Round 12, Saturday, December 28 at 7.45pm AEDT
Stadium: AAMI Park
Head to head: Played: 4 – Wins: Victory 1, Wanderers 3, Draws: 0
Previous encounter: Wanderers 1-0 Victory, November 16, 2013

Melbourne Victory $2.50 vs Western Sydney Wanderers $2.80 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Melbourne Victory $2.55 vs Western Sydney Wanderers $2.65 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison:

Melbourne Victory	2.50	2.50	2.55	2.50	2.50	2.40
Draw	3.30	3.45	3.25	3.45	3.30	3.25
Western Sydney Wanderers	2.80	2.65	2.65	2.65	2.80	2.75

Teams:

Melbourne Victory:

1. Nathan COE (GK), 2. Pablo CONTRERAS, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Nick ANSELL, 5. Mark MILLIGAN, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Gui FINKLER, 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 11. Connor PAIN, 13. Andrew NABBOUT, 14. James TROISI, 15. Mitch NICHOLS, 16. Rashid MAHAZI, 17. Jimmy JEGGO, 20. Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 23. Adrian LEIJER, 24, Scott GALLOWAY. 25, Jason GERIA (two to be omitted)

Ins: 16. Rashid MAHAZI, 17. Jimmy JEGGO

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 10. Archie THOMPSON

Western Sydney Wanderers:

1. Ante COVIC (gk), 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP (c), 6. Jerome POLENZ, 7. Labinot HALITI, 8. Mateo POLJAK, 9. Tomi JURIC, 10. Aaron MOOY, 12. Tahj MINNIECON, 13. Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 14. Kwabena APPIAH, 17. Youssouf HERSI, 18. Iacopo LA ROCCA, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Jerrad TYSON (gk), 21. Shinji ONO, 22. Dean HEFFERNAN (Two to be omitted)

Ins: 10. Aaron MOOY (returns from injury), 19. Mark BRIDGE (returns from injury), 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP (promoted)

Outs: 23. Jason TRIFIRO (not selected)

Unavailable: 2. Shannon COLE (not selected), 11. Brendon SANTALAB (not selected)

Preview:

Form:

Past five matches:

Victory: WWLDW

Wanderers: WWDDL

The Game:

Since their last meeting, a closely fought and entertaining contest which the Wanderers shaded despite Victory dominating possession, the form of these two sides has been solid enough, but not as consistent as their respective coaches would desire. Victory have recorded convincing wins over Adelaide, Perth and the Heart and drawn away to the Mariners, with a home loss to the Jets the only real blot on their copybook. For the Wanderers, a 3-1 loss at Brisbane Roar prompted a slight dip in form which saw them draw twice in succession against the Heart and the Phoenix, before returning to winning ways with a 1-0 triumph away to the Jets and at home to Central Coast. So there is plenty to like about both of these, and Tony Popovic and Kevin Muscat will have serious designs on three points as they look to close the gap on the league-leading Roar.

The big issue:

Victory – When will Gui Finkler return to Victory’s starting line-up? The Brazilian got another 30 minutes off the bench in the derby win over Heart, leading on from his goal-scoring cameo against Perth the previous work. The playmaker is certainly back up to the full fitness after tearing his ACL last season, and Muscat has said his challenge is now to force his way past James Troisi and Mitch Nichols, no small task given the consistent performances produced by those two so far this term. A good problem for Muscat and Victory to have.

Wanderers – Tomi Juric is back in business. The promising front man could be forgiven for looking a little rusty in his first start since recovering from a knee injury, but was instead at his bustling best straight away against Central Coast, scoring a tremendous goal and giving the Mariners’ defence problems throughout in Parramatta. The clamour has started again for him to be elevated to the Socceroos, and it will only continue if his performance level remains this high in the coming weeks and months.

The game breaker:

Shinji Ono – The Victory’s preferred 4-2-4 formation could force one of Nichols or Troisi to drop deep and interfere with the Japanese international, as holding duo Mark Milligan and Leigh Broxham are likely to have their hands full with the Wanderers’ own deeper pair. If Ono is left unattended, he has the potential to draw one of Victory’s centre-backs out of position, leaving Juric free to wreak havoc in the box.

Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au