Melbourne City FC vs Sydney FC, A League 2023-24 REGULAR SEASON
Overview
Match Preview
Melbourne City FC vs Sydney FC — A League at AAMI Park.
- Melbourne City FC 26 games · 38 pts (2025/26)
- Sydney FC 26 games · 39 pts (2025/26)
Match Details
- Referee Daniel Elder
- Referee Richard Naumovski (Australia)
24 games this season
🟨 0.7/game
⚽ 4.3 goals/game
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle United Jets FC | 26 | 48 |
| 2 | Adelaide United FC | 26 | 43 |
| 3 | Auckland FC | 26 | 42 |
| 4 | Melbourne Victory FC | 26 | 40 |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 26 | 39 |
| 6 | Melbourne City FC | 26 | 38 |
| 7 | Macarthur FC | 26 | 34 |
| 8 | Wellington Phoenix FC | 26 | 33 |
| 9 | Central Coast Mariners FC | 26 | 32 |
| 10 | Perth Glory FC | 26 | 31 |
| 11 | Brisbane Roar FC | 26 | 26 |
| 12 | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | 26 | 21 |
Head-to-Head
Recent Form
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Nov | Sydney FC | H | 2–0 | W |
| 29 Oct | Adelaide United FC | A | 0–6 | L |
| 21 Oct | Western United FC | H | 1–2 | L |
| 19 May | Sydney FC | H | 4–0 | W |
| 12 May | Sydney FC | A | 1–1 | D |
| 28 Apr | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | H | 3–2 | W |
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Nov | Melbourne City FC | A | 0–2 | L |
| 27 Oct | Brisbane Roar FC | A | 0–3 | L |
| 21 Oct | Melbourne Victory FC | H | 0–2 | L |
| 19 May | Melbourne City FC | A | 0–4 | L |
| 12 May | Melbourne City FC | H | 1–1 | D |
| 06 May | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | A | 2–1 | W |
Season Stats
| Melbourne City FC | Sydney FC | |
|---|---|---|
| #6 | Position | #5 |
| 38 | Points | 39 |
| 26 | Played | 26 |
| 10 / 8 / 8 | W / D / L | 11 / 6 / 9 |
| 33 | Scored | 33 |
| 33 | Conceded | 25 |
| +0 | GD | +8 |
| 1.46 | PPG | 1.50 |
| 38% | Win % | 42% |
Key Stats
50%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (20 games)
H2H (20 games)
50%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
38%
Clean Sheets
Melbourne City FC this season
Melbourne City FC this season
38%
Clean Sheets
Sydney FC this season
Sydney FC this season
Melbourne City FC are 6th (38 pts). Sydney FC are 5th (39 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Melbourne City FC
0-15
–/–
16-30
4/–
31-45
1/1
46-60
1/–
61-75
3/–
76+
2/4
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Sydney FC
0-15
–/–
16-30
1/–
31-45
–/–
46-60
2/2
61-75
1/1
76+
2/2
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
Melbourne City FC
| Max Caputo | 8 G | 1 A |
| Marcus Younis | 7 G | 3 A |
| Medin Memeti | 5 G | 1 A |
Sydney FC
| Tiago Quintal | 5 G | 3 A |
| Al Hassan Toure | 5 G | 1 A |
| Campuzano | 4 G | 3 A |
| Joe Lolley | 4 G | 2 A |
| Patrick Wood | 4 G | 1 A |
Events
Match Events
- 0' We are underway at AAMI Park. The crowd does wile while the referee lows the starting whistle.
- 5' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
- 10' Spectators do not have much to choose from both teams. The sides had several scoring chances but they still need a bit more than just a sight of a goal.
- 15' Melbourne City FC is defending very well tonight not leaving a chance for their rivals to get through for a goal.
- 20' Melbourne City FC currently sit in the Array table. A result here could be decisive in the race for the top positions.
- 25' A moment of individual brilliance could settle this. Both teams are waiting for that decisive action.
- 26' It’s gonna be a card for Joel King.
- 30' The referee does not hesitate — a card for Callum Talbot on 30 minutes.
- 35' Supporters expect more eagerness from Patrick Wood, as he is very good at scoring at AAMI Park with 1 goals in the last 1 games.
- 38' A moment of madness from Patrick Wood on 38 minutes earns him a card. Sydney FC will be frustrated.
- 43' The referee is likely to let players tackle, as he already missed some meaty challenges during opening seconds. He is still to establish what should not be done by the players and what is acceptable on the pitch. It’s going to be a tough game for Callum Talbot suffering a number of foals already.
- 45' GOAL! Steven Ugarkovic fires home to make it 1-0!
- 46' Goal! Jamie MacLaren scores his 110 goal in 298 matches.
- 51' Not even hints on scoring a goal over the last 51 minutes.
- 56' The referee shows Melbourne City FC player a card on 56.
- 56' A change in the Sydney FC ranks — Jake Girdwood-Reich exits the field as Jaiden Kucharski enters on 56.
- 57' A change in the Sydney FC ranks — Robert Mak exits the field as Fabio enters on 57.
- 61' Melbourne City FC ring the changes. Tolgay Arslan has done his job and it is now time for Leo Natel to step up.
- 66' The clock is ticking and both teams know a goal could change everything at this point.
- 71' A quiet spell here at AAMI Park. Sydney FC seem content sitting deep and soaking up pressure.
- 72' The Sydney FC manager makes a substitution. Joe Lolley departs to be replaced by Mitchell Glasson.
- 77' Robert Mak is putting in a real shift tonight. He has covered more ground than anyone else for Melbourne City FC so far.
- 79' Max Caputo gets the nod from Melbourne City FC. He replaces Marin Jakolis and will look to change the dynamic.
- 83' The Melbourne City FC manager makes a substitution. Hamza Sakhi departs to be replaced by Terry Antonis.
- 88' Sydney FC are happy to let the opposition have the ball in their own half. The trap is set.
- With this win, Melbourne City FC is likely to improve its situation in the overall team standings.
Lineups
Melbourne City FC Lineups
Starting XI
- 16
-
8
Hamza Sakhi ↓ Terry Antonis 83'
- 1
- 6
- 9
- 4
- 22
-
44
Marin Jakolis ↓ Max Caputo 79'
- 25
-
10
Tolgay Arslan ↓ Leo Natel 61'
- 21
Bench
-
17
Terry Antonis ↑ 83'
- 2
-
11
Leo Natel ↑ 61'
- 33
- 26
-
37
Max Caputo ↑ 79'
-
35
Zane Schreiber ↑ 79'
Sydney FC Lineups
Starting XI
-
10
Joe Lolley ↓ Mitchell Glasson 72'
- 1
- 23
-
11
Robert Mak ↓ Fabio 57'
- 26
- 17
-
16
Joel King ↓ Zachary de Jesus 61'
- 15
-
13
Patrick Wood ↓ Corey Hollman 72'
- 3
- 8
Bench
- 4
- 20
-
9
Fabio ↑ 57'
-
25
Jaiden Kucharski ↑ 56'
-
21
Zachary de Jesus ↑ 61'
-
12
Corey Hollman ↑ 72'
-
19
Mitchell Glasson ↑ 72'
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Jamie MacLaren | 11 |
| Mathew Leckie | 6 |
| Adam Le Fondre | 6 |
| Marco Tilio | 4 |
| Jordan Courtney-Perkins | 2 |
| Kosta Barbarouses | 2 |
| Joe Lolley | 2 |
| Max Caputo | 2 |
Head to Head
Melbourne City FC Form
2023-11-03
Melbourne City FC
2–0
Sydney FC
W
2023-10-29
Adelaide United FC
6–0
Melbourne City FC
L
2023-10-21
Melbourne City FC
1–2
Western United FC
L
2023-05-19
Melbourne City FC
4–0
Sydney FC
W
2023-05-12
Sydney FC
1–1
Melbourne City FC
D
2023-04-28
Melbourne City FC
3–2
Western Sydney Wanderers FC
W
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
2 / 4
1.72
Melbourne City FC xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.93
Sydney FC xG
I would bet for:
Melbourne City FC to win 57%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Melbourne City FC win
Both Teams to Score
✗ Wrong
Avg goals/match: 2.65
Actual: No — clean sheet
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 91% |
|
9% |
| ± 1.5 | 74% |
|
26% |
| ± 2.5 | 49% |
|
51% |
| ± 3.5 | 28% |
|
72% |
| ± 4.5 | 14% |
|
86% |
Double Chance
Melbourne City FC or Draw
81%
Draw or Sydney FC
43%
Melbourne City FC or Sydney FC
75%
Half-Time Result
✗ WrongActual: Melbourne City FC win at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 1
12.2%
1 – 0
11.4%
2 – 0
Actual
2 – 1
9.4%
0 – 0
9%
3 – 0
5.7%
0 – 1
5.6%
3 – 1
5.4%
1 – 2
5%
2 – 2
4.4%
0 – 2
3%
3 – 2
2.6%
Asian Handicap — Melbourne City FC
| Handicap | Melbourne City FC covers | Push | Sydney FC covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 14% | — | 86% |
| -2 | 14% | 17% | 69% |
| -1.5 | 31% | — | 69% |
| -1 | 31% | 24% | 46% |
| -0.5 | 54% | — | 46% |
| +0.5 | 81% | — | 19% |
| +1 | 81% | 12% | 7% |
| +1.5 | 93% | — | 7% |
| +2 | 93% | 5% | 2% |
| +2.5 | 98% | — | 2% |
Clean Sheet
Melbourne City FC keeps clean sheet
40%
✗
Sydney FC keeps clean sheet
19%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.