It is a bottom-of-the-table clash in the A-League this Sunday as Melbourne Victory will aim to get themselves off the foot of the table when they host Macarthur.
The visitors sit just a single point above their opponents, and with only one game remaining after this it will mark an important opportunity for each to climb the table.
Match preview
It has been a season to forget for Melbourne Victory having won just seven matches throughout the campaign which has left them sitting at the bottom of the league heading into the penultimate weekend of the regular season.
Dreams and aspirations of reaching the finals series have long since vanished and now the focus has turned to simply not finishing rock bottom if possible.
A victory this weekend would go a long way in trying to achieve that goal as it would guarantee they leapfrog their opponents and could take them as high as ninth depending on other results.
Recent form is against them, though, as Melbourne Victory have failed to win in their previous three matches, which is something that they now need to put behind them.
Their most recent match resulted in a 2-1 loss against Western Sydney Wanderers which was not helped by the fact that Roderick Miranda was sent off.
The visitors also head into this match on the back of a defeat as Bachana Arabuli's 92nd-minute goal was too little too late against Newcastle Jets as Macarthur were defeated 2-1.
It continued the difficult run of form that the team has dealt with toward the end of the regular campaign as they are now without a win in their previous five matches.
While they can mathematically still reach the finals series it is almost an impossible task due to how much needs to work in their favour with other results as well as goal difference.
However, stranger things have happened in football and if Macarthur can secure six points from the final two games then it is something that could be achieved.
The focus will be simply on not finishing bottom of the league right now, though, and a win here would guarantee that will not happen.
Team News
Both Will Wilson and Eli Adams have been included into the matchday squad for Melbourne Victory this weekend, and the club will also have Matt Bozinovski as an option, but his minutes will likely be managed following his injury.
Miranda will be missing this time around following his red card during their most recent game which will force at least one change to the starting lineup this time out.
Arabuli will be hoping that his goal from the bench last weekend was enough to earn him an opportunity from the first minute this time for the visitors.
Ollie Jones recently signed a contract extension for Macarthur and that will likely be rewarded by another start on Sunday.
Melbourne Victory possible starting lineup:
Izzo; Nigro, Da Silva, Broxham, Cadete; Folami, Chapman, Rai, Velupillay; Romero, Fornaroli
Macarthur possible starting lineup:
Kurto; McGing, Aspropotamitis, Jones, Vujica; Millar, Baccus, De Silva, Noone; Toure, Rose
We say: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Macarthur
Neither team has been in good form as of late, and considering how damaging a defeat could be for either club this game could lead to a cautious draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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