Melbourne City vs Sydney FC Prediction, Betting Tips, Lineups & Odds | 03 Jan 2026

A-League Betting Preview: Melbourne City vs Sydney FC

Melbourne City square off against Sydney FC at AAMI Park, with kick-off set for 03:35 on Saturday 3 January.

If you’re in agreement with our verdict that there won’t be lots of goals, back the -115 on the Under 2.5 selection when it comes to Total Goals. We are not anticipating that Melbourne City vs Sydney will produce too many fireworks.

Reckon goals will be hard to come by? Make sure you’ve got the BetMGM promo code and check our review before you place that bet.

Melbourne City were beaten 3-1 at AAMI Park in their last game, being turned over at home to Perth Glory. The Cranbourne East outfit had most of the ball boasting 61% possession and four shots on target, with Andrew Nabbout scoring the goal.

Sydney FC were defeated in their previous game. On their travels, they suffered a 2-0 loss against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium. Ufuk Talay's team recorded five shots on goal and had 46% possession.

Head-to-Head Statistics

City have triumphed in the last two encounters against Sydney. There was a 5-1 home win at AAMI Park after triumphing 3-2 away at Allianz Stadium. The previous 10 H2H meetings have involved six City wins, two Sydney victories and two draws.

A-League		G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	GD	P
3	Sydney FC	17	8	2	7	24	18	6	24:18	26
7	Melb City	17	5	7	5	19	21	-2	19:21	22

View Full Table

City have 3 wins, 3 losses and 4 draws, averaging 1.1 goals from 3.7 shots on goal and 8.7 attempts. Aurelio Vidmar's side have averaged 56.6% possession and 6.1 corners per game, with their opponents scoring 1.0 goals from 3.7 shots on goal, 7.7 attempts and 4.4 corners.

Top goalscorer Max Caputo has found the net 4 times, Kavian Rahmani 2, with Andrew Nabbout and two other players on 1. Andreas Kuen is the leading assists maker on 3.

Sydney have won 6 and lost 4, with an average of 1.6 goals from 11.6 attempts and 5.2 shots on goal. There’s been an average of 51.7% possession, 4.4 corners in their favour and 5.1 corners against, while they’ve conceded 1.2 goals from 9.9 attempts and 4.6 shots on goal.

Alhassan Toure and Joe Lolley have scored 4 goals, followed by Victor Campuzano with 2. Tiago Quintal has been top assists provider with 3 in the previous 10 games.

Confirmed Lineups

Melbourne City confirmed lineup (4-1-4-1): Patrick Beach (GK), Nathaniel Atkinson, German Ferreyra, Samuel Souprayen, Aziz Behich, Kai Trewin, Kavian Rahmani, Andreas Kuen, Emin Durakovic, Andrew Nabbout, Medin Memeti.

Sydney FC confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): Harrison Devenish-Meares (GK), Rhyan Grant, Marcel Tisserand, Alexander Grant, Benjamin Garuccio, Rhys Youlley, Paul Okon-Engstler, Abel Walatee, Piero Quispe, Alhassan Toure, Victor Campuzano.

Melbourne City vs Sydney FC Prediction & Betting Tips

We’ve lined up expert Melbourne City vs Sydney FC betting tips, from our match prediction and correct score call to corners betting insight, best player prop picks and bet builder advice. Read on for the full breakdown.

Match Prediction

There’s every chance that we’ll see a low goal count for this A-League showdown. For this reason, we’ll take the odds of -115 about Under 2.5, with the two teams unlikely to deliver a combined three goals or more.

Our football experts study the form, while injuries and suspensions can also affect the potential outcome. Before coming up with a verdict, we combine this data with the latest A-League stats.

Key Melbourne City vs Sydney FC league stats:

• The 2.5 line hasn’t been covered in 4 of the last 5 City games.
• The 2.5 line hasn’t been covered in 12 of the last 17 City games at home.
• The 2.5 line hasn’t been covered in 3 of the last 5 Sydney games.
• The 2.5 line hasn’t been covered in the last 2 Sydney games.

The latest betting odds imply that our pick has a 53.5% prospect of winning. In our opinion, there’s actually a probability of success closer to 60%. That means we’re regarding it as a value wager.

If you want to land a larger price, then there’s a chance to choose Under 2.5 Goals accompanied by a winning team. This is on offer thanks to the Result & Total Goals market.

Score better value on your wagers by checking our bonus guide filled with the best sportsbook promo codes and free bets.

Our Match Prediction

Under 2.5 Goals @ -115 Bet Now

BetMGM Promo Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Get Bonus T&C apply. Gamble responsibly 18+

Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (09:37, 01 January 2026). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

City 1 - 0 Sydney

City can be backed at +575 to triumph by a 1-0 scoreline. It can be fun to have a wager on the correct score and there’s a big potential return if the bet wins.

Player Prop Picks

Top Pick: Benjamin Mazzeo To Score +290

Benjamin Mazzeo (City) can be backed at +290 to find the net. The odds that he will be an Anytime Goalscorer look attractive based on the evidence and we’ll plump for him to find the net.

Latest Benjamin Mazzeo Player Prop Odds

Goalscorer

Anytime

+290

First

+700

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Corners Prediction

Over 9.5 Corners -137

It has been over 9.5 corners in five straight Melbourne City matches. If you concur with our viewpoint that the Total Corners line can be covered, then you can secure odds of -137 that this outcome happens.

League Games

League Games

Last 10 Total For Against

Last 10 at Home Total For Against

Last 10 Away Total For Against

City

Total

10.50 6.10 4.40

Home

9.10 6.00 3.10

Away

9.10 5.10 4.00

Sydney

Total

9.50 4.40 5.10

Home

10.70 5.90 4.80

Away

9.30 4.50 4.80

Latest Corner Odds

Total Corners

Over 9.5

-135

Under 9.5

-105

City Corners

Over 5.5

+107

Under 5.5

-161

Sydney Corners

Over 4.5

-109

Under 4.5

-137

Most Corners

1

-130

X

+650

2

+130

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Melbourne City vs Sydney FC Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

Melbourne City are the skinniest price to succeed in this A-League clash, with the favourites afforded a 49% probability based on their +106 betting odds with the bookies. Sydney FC are seen as the most unlikely winner at +235.

If you think City can overcome Sydney, then there’s an Asian Handicap option where the former are -133 with a -0.25 deficit. There’s half your money back in the event of a draw.

Over and Under 2.5 Goals backers are able to get odds which are similar for the Total Goals market. Punters expecting both teams to find the net can get -154 when it comes to BTTS Yes.

The top football betting sites ensure that customers are able to choose from a wide range of options. It’s no exaggeration that they provide hundreds of markets when it comes to A-League games.

Full-Time Result

1

+106

X

+240

2

+235

Half-Time Result

1

+163

X

+125

2

+265

Double Chance

1X

-370

12

-370

X2

-152

Draw No Bet

1

-200

2

+138

Asian Handicap

1 Hcp -0.25

-133

2 Hcp +0.25

-108

Total Goals

Under 2.5

-114

Over 2.5

-125

Both Teams to Score

Yes

-154

No

+107

There is +107 available that Max Caputo finds the net at any stage. He is available at +270 to register the first goal which makes him favourite.

Max Caputo (City)

First

+107

Anytime

+270

Joe Lolley (Sydney)

First

+160

Anytime

+370

Victor Campuzano (Sydney)

First

+255

Anytime

+575

Elbasan Rashani (City)

First

+280

Anytime

+700

Andrew Nabbout (City)

First

+290

Anytime

+700

Benjamin Mazzeo (City)

First

+290

Anytime

+700

Mathew Leckie (City)

First

+300

Anytime

+700

Andreas Kuen (City)

First

+330

Anytime

+750

Lawrence Wong (City)

First

+360

Anytime

+850

Marin France (Sydney)

First

+370

Anytime

+800

Joseph Lacey (Sydney)

First

+390

Anytime

+850

Tiago Quintal (Sydney)

First

+400

Anytime

+900

Alessandro Lopane (City)

First

+420

Anytime

+950

Piero Quispe (Sydney)

First

+440

Anytime

+950

Abel Walatee (Sydney)

First

+500

Anytime

+1100

Wataru Kamijo (Sydney)

First

+525

Anytime

+1100

Lachlan Middleton (Sydney)

First

+525

Anytime

+1200

Emin Durakovic (City)

First

+575

Anytime

+1300

Zane Schreiber (City)

First

+575

Anytime

+1300

Corey Hollman (Sydney)

First

+600

Anytime

+1400

Harrison Shillington (City)

First

+750

Anytime

+1700

Nathaniel Atkinson (City)

First

+800

Anytime

+1800

Peter Antoniou (City)

First

+800

Anytime

+2000

Benjamin Garuccio (Sydney)

First

+850

Anytime

+2000

Kai Trewin (City)

First

+850

Anytime

+2000

Aziz Behich (City)

First

+850

Anytime

+2000

Jordan Courtney-Perkins (Sydney)

First

+950

Anytime

+2000

Samuel Souprayen (City)

First

+950

Anytime

+2200

Besian Kutleshi (City)

First

+1000

Anytime

+2000

Rhyan Grant (Sydney)

First

+1000

Anytime

+2200

Melbourne City have failed to win in their last three matches at AAMI Park. The Cranbourne East outfit have racked up five victories, three draws and two defeats in the previous 10 home games, netting an average of 1.70 goals per match and conceding 0.90.

Sydney have secured five wins and five defeats in the last 10 away games, recording an average of 1.40 goals per match and conceding 1.50.

When the teams previously met at AAMI Park, City defeated Sydney 5-1. In the past 7 H2H meetings at AAMI Park, City have won every time.

Last 10 League Games		W-D-L	G	GF	GA	O2.5	U2.5	B-Y	B-No
Melbourne City Home Stats		5-3-2	2.60	1.70	0.90	4	6	5	5
Sydney FC Away Stats		5-0-5	2.90	1.40	1.50	5	5	5	5

• W-D-L = Wins-Draws-Losses
• G = Avg. Goals
• GF = Avg. Goals For
• GA = Avg. Goals Against
• O2.5 = Matches Over 2.5 Goals
• U2.5 = Matches Under 2.5 Goals
• B-Y = Matches BTTS Yes
• B-No = Matches BTTS No

Melbourne City vs Sydney FC Lineups & Team News

Get the latest team news for City vs Sydney before you bet. We’ll keep you posted with predicted and confirmed lineups for the A-League and all current injury news.

Melbourne City Team Page Sydney FC Team Page

Top Football Pages