Melbourne Victory take on Melbourne City in Round 4 of the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday, November 9, kick-off 7.35pm AEDT.
Fresh from their first win of the campaign away to Perth Glory last Friday, Arthur Diles’ side know far more than another three points are on the line this weekend in the first Melbourne Derby of 2025/26.
A repeat of May’s sold-out Grand Final, bragging rights are once more up for grabs at AAMI Park, as Victory look to extend their impressive record against the local rivals, having not lost a regular-season meeting to City since April 2023.
The Boys in Blue
After multiple moments of promise in Rounds 1 and 2, it all came together for Melbourne Victory in Western Australia to secure a first win of the season – the perfect lead into a much-anticipated Melbourne Derby.
The opening weekend draw with Auckland FC delivered a clean sheet, and the seven-goal game at Newcastle Jets got Victory on the scoresheet, but the manner in which Perth Glory were overcome represented the perfect away performance.
Juan Mata’s goal-scoring contribution got the headlines, but another full debutant, Matthew Grimaldi, was equally influential. He recorded 14 goal involvements during his two seasons representing Western United, and after two substitute appearances, his first start delivered two assists.
Grimaldi was not the only off-season recruit looking at home in Victory colours. Denis Genreau, playing in a deeper berth, dictated proceedings alongside Jordi Valadon, and Keegan Jelacic bagged in back-to-back matches, as he continues to balance incisive wing play and clinical in-field forays.
Our midfield options are also set to be bolstered thanks to the inclusion of Louis D’Arrigo, after injury kept the former Adelaide United and Lechia Gdańsk man out of October’s matches.
Round 4 Squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 34. Xavier STELLA, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 64. Juan MATA
Ins: 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO
Outs: N/A.
Unavailable: 5. Brendan HAMILL (long-term injury)
A look at City
Melbourne City have enjoyed a mixed bag of results as they balance the on and off-field demands of playing both domestic and continental competition after achieving a second-place finish at the conclusion of 2024/25.
Aurelio Vidmar’s men entered the AFC Champions League Elite in mid-September, losing their first two matches to Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vissel Kobe, before responding with narrow wins over Buriram United and Machida Zelvia to put them back on course for qualification to the Round of 16.
The first of these successes included a first City goal for Elbasan Rashani, who joined the club after a year with Elche in September, and was followed by a maiden A-Leagues strike for the Swedish attacker in a 4-0 thrashing of Perth Glory.
Such a strong showing was, however, bookended by draws away to Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar. The season opener saw Max Caputo, fresh from signing a new three-year contract during the off-season, equalise in New South Wales. He then hit a brace versus Glory, but along with his teammates, drew a blank during a goalless encounter against Brisbane.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory were fractions from completing a remarkable end to the 2024/25 season. Arthur Diles’ squad produced a remarkable charge from fifth to reach the Grand Final, where they were backed by hordes of Victory fans at AAMI Park. There was to be no fairytale ending, though, as an early Yonatan Cohen goal gave Melbourne City the spoils.
Last time out
Melbourne Victory proved far too strong for Perth Glory, as the Men’s First Team made it four wins from five when travelling to WA in the A-Leagues.
The visitors got off to the perfect start at HBF Park, scoring the opener after just 11 minutes thanks to a clinical Keegan Jelacic strike from the edge of the penalty area that found the bottom corner.
Perth pushed for a leveller, but the game was put beyond them early in the second half, when Juan Mata marked his first Victory start with his first goal. The Spaniard timed his run into the box expertly, finishing from close range before celebrating with the travelling Victory fans.
Melbourne City left it late to win in Japan on Tuesday night as they collected a second three-point return from their AFC Champions League Elite group stage effort.
City, through bizarre circumstances, went in front inside 60 seconds, with Machida Zelvia defender Gen Shoji firing the ball past his own goalkeeper when attempting a pass.
The hosts rallied to level midway through the first 45, and it appeared the result would remain that way until the final moments. Amidst a goalmouth scramble, Andrew Nabbout was able to squeeze the ball in off the crossbar in the fourth minute of injury time.
