Fighting for a shot at the A-League crown, Auckland FC will welcome Melbourne Victory to the Go Media Stadium on Saturday for the second leg of their semi-final.
The Black Knights will be aiming to control this weekend's match as they look to protect their slim first-leg advantage over the Big V.
Match preview
© Imago
Steve Corica's Auckland automatically qualified for the final four after finishing the regular season at the top of the A-League tree, and having lost just once since January, they will be confident of going on to secure the trophy.
In the first leg, wide man Logan Rogerson's 64th-minute strike was the only goal of the game, and while the Black Knights were not at their most creative considering they only generated two shots on target, the boss will be pleased that his team were able to find the breakthrough.
Notably, Corica's side did not need goalkeeper Alex Paulsen to make a single save in that match, and this defensive solidity could be crucial with only one goal separating the clubs in this tie.
Saturday's hosts have proven to be particularly resilient at the Go Media Stadium, and given that they have recorded four wins and four draws on their own turf in 2025, their marginal advantage may be enough to see them progress to the final.
If Auckland can triumph at the weekend, they would set up a mouth-watering final against either Melbourne City or Western United, who finished second and third in the table respectively.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Arthur Diles's Victory are the lowest ranked team left in the competition after the Elimination Finals, and they have their work cut out for them if they are to have a chance at the trophy.
The Big V beat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 to reach the semi-finals, thanks in-part to a standout performance from winger Daniel Arzani, but their lacklustre attacking display last weekend - that featured 10 shots with zero on target - has them a goal down at the halfway stage in the tie.
That being said, the first leg represented just the second occasion on which Diles's side failed to score since February, and fans and players alike will be expecting a performance that better reflects their strong season this time around.
Adding to this sense of expectation is the fact that the visitors have won their last three on the road, and having scored at least two in each of those games, they will see the one-goal deficit as only a minor obstacle.
Victory for the Big V would put them in position to fight for their first A-League title since 2018's controversial Grand Final against Newcastle Jets, with the potential for a dramatic derby clash against Melbourne City in the Grand Final.
Team News
© Imago
Auckland could be without midfielder Felipe Gallegos this weekend after he was taken off with an injury in the first leg, and Jake Brimmer may take his place alongside Louis Verstraete.
In the backline, centre-halves Daniel Hall and Nando Pijnaker will be looking to protect the Black Knights' slim advantage, while Hiroki Sakai and Francis De Vries offer attacking support from full-back.
At the opposite end of the pitch, strikers Guillermo May and Jesse Randall will be aided by Marlee Francois and Logan Rogerson, who netted the only goal of the tie at AAMI Park.
As for Victory, centre-back Brendan Hamill was forced off through injury last weekend, and Joshua Wallins will be on hand to start beside Jackson Lachlan in Corica's defence.
Up top, Nikos Vergos will be hoping to fire the Big V into the final, and the frontman will be supported by Daniel Arzani and Nishan Velupillay, with Zinedine Machbach operating in an attacking midfield role.
Behind Machbach should be Ryan Teague and Jordi Valadon, who will aim to provide a platform for their side from the centre of the park.
Auckland FC possible starting lineup:
Paulsen; Sakai, Hall, Pijnaker, Vries; Verstraete, Brimmer; Rogerson, Francois; May, Randall
Melbourne Victory possible starting lineup:
Duncan; Inserra, Wallins, Lachlan, Bos; Teague, Valadon; Arzani, Machach, Velupillay; Vergos
We say: Auckland FC 1-1 Melbourne Victory
Auckland may only have a slim lead, but their resilience at home is hard to ignore, and they are unlikely to lose on their own turf this weekend.
That being said, expect Victory to put up a strong fight, especially considering that they have won three on the bounce away from home ahead of the second leg.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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