Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar: Will Maclaren Fire City to Victory in Season Finale?

The calendar year is coming to an exciting close for both Melbourne City FC and the Brisbane Roar as they face off at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on December 28th for their final 2022 A-League clash. With the league table tightening up and only a handful of matches remaining before the end of the season, this game holds major implications. Victory could see either side strengthen their position at the top of the ladder as they fight for an advantageous finals spot. However, a loss could be detrimental this late in the campaign.

The stakes are high for two clubs who have endured turbulence over the past month. Melbourne City is hoping to snap a disappointing run of results and recover the form that saw them go undefeated for the first 10 matches of the season. Meanwhile, Brisbane is looking to steady the ship under interim coach Luciano Trani after Ross Aloisi’s abrupt departure. This match promises to provide an enthralling final chapter to the year.

Melbourne City Form

Melbourne City FC comes into this match on a mixed run of form despite remaining undefeated in their past four A-League games. The team has only managed two wins in their last nine league matches, struggling to find consistency during this period.

Their recent performances have lacked attacking threat and fluidity. The team has scored just five goals in their last five games, well below their usual prolific scoring rate. Defensively, Melbourne City has remained organized, only conceding six goals across these games. However, the lack of firepower upfront has made it difficult for them to convert draws into wins.

The dip in form has seen Melbourne City drop down to fifth position on the A-League table. Securing three points against Brisbane Roar would help propel them back towards a top-two finish. However, replicating their early season form has proven difficult in recent weeks.

Melbourne City Injuries

Melbourne City’s fortunes have been hampered by injuries to key attacking players this season. Winger Mathew Leckie has missed a number of games due to a hamstring injury he picked up in October. Leckie provides pace and creativity down the wings, so Melbourne have struggled to break down stubborn defenses in his absence.

They have also sorely missed the energy and work rate of forward Andrew Nabbout. He suffered a dislocated shoulder earlier this month which will see him sidelined for an extended period. With two of their main attacking outlets unavailable, Melbourne City’s attack has looked one-dimensional and short of ideas at times.

Getting Leckie and Nabbout back fit will be crucial to revitalizing Melbourne City’s attack. However, with this being their last game before a long break, it’s unlikely either player will be risked. Melbourne will have to cope without them against Brisbane and hope the rest of the squad can step up.

Brisbane Roar Form

In contrast to Melbourne City’s steady form, the last few games for Brisbane Roar have pointed to a squad in the middle of a tough run. The away side come into this match having suffered back-to-back losses in their previous two league fixtures.

Their recent 2-0 defeat against Western United saw Brisbane struggle to create chances, only managing a couple of shots on target throughout the 90 minutes. Prior to that, they were handed a 3-1 beating courtesy of Adelaide United, in a game where defensive mistakes proved very costly.

At the moment, Brisbane seem unable to re-capture the positive form they displayed earlier in the season. Their current struggles present a stark difference to the attacking potency and defensive stability that saw them go on a six game unbeaten run just a couple months ago.

With two comprehensive losses fresh in their memories, Brisbane Roar will hope to turn things around and put in an improved performance against Melbourne City. However, their current run of results signifies they could face an uphill battle at AAMI Park this Thursday.

Brisbane Roar Coaching Change

Brisbane Roar have faced instability with the sudden departure of head coach Ross Aloisi, who exited the club to take up a new position with Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League.

Aloisi had been with Brisbane since the 2018/19 season, helping rebuild the club after a poor prior campaign. His tactical nous and passion on the sidelines will be missed by Roar fans.

The quick exit has left Brisbane in a difficult situation. Aloisi was an important stabilizing presence and his abrupt departure has created uncertainty.

In the interim, assistant coach Luciano Trani has taken over managerial duties. While experienced, Trani has not previously served as a head coach. It remains to be seen if he can steer Brisbane through this transitional period.

The coaching change has clearly impacted squad morale and cohesion. In their first two matches under Trani, Brisbane has suffered consecutive defeats, unable to find their rhythm.

With Aloisi’s departure coming right before the busy holiday period, Brisbane is lacking leadership and direction at a critical juncture. His exit to Shanghai Port has left a void that will be difficult to fill in the short-term as the club pushes to make the A-League finals.

Head to Head Record

Brisbane Roar has struggled mightily when facing Melbourne City on the road. In their last 5 away matches against Melbourne City, Brisbane has lost 4 and drawn 1, being outscored 9-1 over that span.

Last season, Brisbane suffered a devastating 4-0 loss at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, unable to generate any attack while conceding early and often. Their previous away match saw a close 1-0 defeat as Brisbane held strong defensively but could not break through for an equalizer.

Overall, Melbourne City has won 7 of their last 10 home matches against Brisbane Roar across all competitions. Brisbane’s lone win came back in 2019 by a score of 2-1. However, Melbourne City has been in strong form at home this season, going undefeated at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

With Brisbane’s poor away record, especially against Melbourne City, and considering Melbourne’s strong home form, the stats point toward a likely home win for Melbourne City in this matchup. Brisbane will need to put forth an inspired performance to defy their recent struggles in Melbourne.

Match Predictions

Heading into the final match of the year, analysts predict a victory for the home side Melbourne City over the struggling Brisbane Roar. With Brisbane dealing with both poor form and a recent coaching change, Melbourne City is expected to capitalize on their weaknesses.

The current prediction is a 2-1 win for Melbourne City. Their attacking power, led by key players Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout, will likely overwhelm Brisbane’s defense. Though Brisbane has failed to score in their past matches against Melbourne City, they may manage to sneak one in this time.

Overall, Melbourne City is rightly favored as the winner for this last encounter. Their continued drive for the top of the table will edge out Brisbane’s unstable footing. As long as Melbourne City can compensate for injuries, their substantial lead in current standings should translate to a solid win to close out the year.

Players to Watch

Jamie Maclaren is predicted to have a major impact on the game, either scoring or assisting a goal for Melbourne City FC. The prolific striker sits second in the golden boot race this season with 7 goals, and has proven himself dangerous in front of goal time and time again. Even against strong opposition, Maclaren has showcased his ability to find the back of the net.

With Brisbane Roar’s away form against Melbourne City being notably poor, the odds will be in Maclaren’s favor to continue his goalscoring form in this match. Any defensive lapse from Brisbane could see the striker capitalize and get himself on the scoresheet. Maclaren’s contributions will be integral to Melbourne City’s chances of claiming all three points.

How to Watch

Fans can catch the Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar match live on TNT Sports, which holds the rights to A-League matches in the UK.

For those who prefer online viewing, a live stream will be available on bet365. Bet365 offers live streaming of sports events to account holders who have placed a bet within the last 24 hours or have a funded account.

To access the stream on bet365:

• Have an active and funded bet365 account
• Navigate to the ‘Live Streaming’ section
• Select Soccer and then the Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar game
• Click on the play icon to start the stream

The stream can be accessed on desktop or via the bet365 mobile apps. Just download the app, log into your account and you can enjoy live action from wherever you are.

So don’t miss a minute of the action, get set up with bet365 and watch Melbourne City take on Brisbane Roar live online.

Betting Tips

As the season comes to an end, there are some intriguing betting opportunities around the Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar match that are worth considering:

Melbourne City to Win

The home side are favorites going into this game and for good reason. Their strong home record against Brisbane and wealth of attacking talent like Jamie Maclaren make them likely victors. Punters backing a Melbourne City win seem likely to cash in.

Over 2.5 Goals

With both teams boasting goal-scorers like Maclaren and Moreno, a high-scoring game could be on the cards. Given some key injuries in defense for Melbourne City, Brisbane will sense opportunities to get on the score sheet multiple times. The over 2.5 goals mark is a solid bet.

Goal in the 2nd Half

Even if things start slowly, the second half could see the goals flow. As players tire late on, spaces open up which gifted attackers like Maclaren are adept at exploiting. Expect to see the ball hitting the back of the net after the half-time break.

Maclaren to Score or Assist

Jamie Maclaren has been Melbourne City’s standout performer this season. He’ll be central to their game plan and with a keen eye for goal, he’s a good bet to find the net or set up a teammate. Back Maclaren to get a goal or assist and you’re likely to win.