Melbourne set for bonanza in week one of A-League finals with City, Victory joining race for Asia

THE RUN HOME: Melbourne is on track to host two A-League finals in the one weekend for the first time. MATT WINDLEY predicts how the remainder of the regular season might unfold — and what that means for City and Victory.

Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory are right in the finals race. Pic: AAP

MELBOURNE is on track to play host to two A-League finals in the one weekend for the first time.

Melbourne Victory’s 2-1 derby win over Melbourne City on Friday night helped consolidate its hold on a top four spot, a grip that tightened further on Saturday when fifth-placed Adelaide lost to Brisbane.

City is third on 33 points, one ahead of Victory, who is three points clear of the chasing pack.

But both teams have inviting runs home, with Victory in particular helped by a draw that sees them play teams below it for the next four weeks.

Leroy George scored the winning goal for Victory in Friday night’s derby. Picture: Getty Images

Home games for City against Western Sydney and Central Coast are must win, while a trip to also-ran Wellington in the final round is another big opportunity.

The third and fourth-place finishers receive home elimination finals in week one of the playoffs, before travelling for the semi-finals in week two.

ACL: VICTORY DETERMINED TO END HORROR RUN

But the other subplot to the final five weeks of the season is the race for Asia, with a third-placed finish likely to secure that team entry into the 2019 Asian Champions League playoffs.

And City is hellbent on making it to the Champions League for the first time.

City has lived in the shadows of Victory since joining the A-League in 2010, finishing above their arch rivals just twice.

The fight for third is well and truly on. Picture: Michael Klein

The City Football Group has invested millions since buying Melbourne Heart in 2014 and is keen to expand its Asian footprint.

City midfielder Stefan Mauk admitted watching Victory and Sydney FC play in this year’s ACL was tough to swallow.

“The owners didn’t buy the club for us to finish fourth or fifth on the table, they want us to win things,” Mauk said.

“It (Asia) hasn’t been spoken too much to us as players, but it’s something we understand. It’s a massive tournament.

Bruno Fornaroli scored for Melbourne City in its derby loss to Victory. Picture: AAP

“As a player you want to play as many games as possible. Training is OK, but you want to play and watching Victory and Sydney play in China in front of the big crowds, against Oscar and Hulk, you want to play at the highest level against the best players.”

Lack of international breaks could again come back to hurt Victory with Kosta Barbarouses and possibly James Troisi and Rhys Williams to miss their side’s Round 24 trip to Perth.

While snapping a six-game losing streak against Sydney in Round 27 could also be enough to see Victory finish above City on the table once again.

Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory are right in the finals race. Pic: Getty

THE RUN HOME

MELBOURNE CITY

3rd, W 10, D 3, L 9, GD +2 pts 33

R23 v Adelaide (A) L

R24 v Western Sydney (H) W

R25 v Newcastle (A) L

R26 v Central Coast (H) W

R27 v Wellington (A) W

MELBOURNE VICTORY

4th, W 9, D 5, L 8, GD +2 pts 32

R23 v Central Coast (H) W

R24 v Perth (A) L

R25 v Western Sydney (H) W

R26 v Wellington (H) W

R27 v Sydney (A) L

* Matt Windley’s predicted results

PREDICTED LADDER

1 Sydney 67pts

2 Newcastle 57pts

3 Melb City 42pts

4 Melb Victory 41pts

5 Western Sydney 38pts

6 Adelaide 36pts

-----

7 Perth 31pts

8 Brisbane 28pts

9 Central Coast 20pts

10 Wellington 20pts

PREDICTED FINALS

ELIMINATION FINALS

Melbourne City v Adelaide, AAMI Park

Melbourne Victory v Western Sydney, AAMI Park

SEMI-FINALS

Sydney v lowest-ranked week one winner, Allianz Stadium

Newcastle v highest-ranked week one winner, McDonald Jones Stadium

GRAND FINAL

Winner of semi-final 1 v winner of semj-final 2

TOUGH MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB

City/Heart has only twice finished above Victory

FINISHING POSITIONS

VICTORY // CITY

2010-11 5th // 11th

2011-12 8th // 6th

2012-13 3rd* // 9th

2013-14 4th // 10th

2014-15 1st // 5th

2015-16 6th // 4th

2016-17 2nd // 4th

2017-18 # 4th // 3rd

* Denotes qualified for Asian Champions League

#After 22 of 27 rounds

Originally published as Melbourne set for bonanza in week one of A-League finals with City, Victory joining race for Asia