18+ | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Commercial content | Advertising disclosure

football | Tuesday, January 30, 2024 10:54 AM

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Prediction: Tips and Best Bets Preview

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Prediction: Tips and Best Bets Preview
Matthew O'Regan
Matthew O'Regan
0

The second of three live A-League games on Saturday comes from New South Wales and Matthew O’Regan is here to provide his Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory prediction, tips and best bets preview.

The hosts are playing catch-up in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, while the visitors are pushing to top the table, currently sat just two points off league leaders Wellington Phoenix.

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Prediction and Tips Preview

  1. Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 1: Apostolos Stamatelopoulos to Score
  2. Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 2: Zinedine Machach to Score
  3. Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 3: Roderick Miranda to be Booked

In this article:


Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 1: Stamatelopoulos to strike again

Australia, A-League, Saturday, February 3rd 7:00(UK)

Yet again, I am selecting Apostolos Stamatelopoulos to score – but for good reason. The 24-year-old is second in the top scorer rankings, having scored ten goals in 13 starts.

Stamatelopoulou has been a rare bright spark in an otherwise disappointing season for the Jets, with the striker scoring 41% of his side’s goals this season. He is averaging 0.86 goals per 90, from 3.11 shots and 1.30 shots on target per 90. The Aussie is an all-round threat up front, using his physical presence to rough up defenders, which has seen him booked four times and sent off once already this season.

While Melbourne Victory is unbeaten still and has the second-best defensive record, Tony Popovic’s side has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four games and has conceded ten goals in eight away games.

Victory are seemingly struggling without Bruno Fornaroli to break down defences, with the 36-year-old scoring 13 from 10.

Playing against a defence without a clean sheet in four and showing signs of defensive fragility on the road, Stamatelopoulos will fancy his chances of closing the gap to Fornaroli in the top goalscorer rankings.

  • Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 1: Apostolos Stamatelopoulos to Score
  • Best Odds: 2.75
  • Bookmaker: bet365
  • Stake: 7/10

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 2: Machach to make it six

As mentioned, Victory are lacking without the formidable Bruno Fornaroli, failing to win their last three, despite playing against ten men in the last two.

However, one player who has stepped up and made the absence a bit easier to take is Frenchman Zinedine Machach. The 28-year-old has five goals and three assists in 14 starts since arriving from Greece at the start of the season.

He has a good pedigree in the game, having plied his trade at Toulouse, Marseille and Napoli, to name a few. Machach has shown his quality in the last four games in the absence of Fornaroli, scoring two in this time period.

This season, the 28-year-old is averaging 0.36 xG per 90, on top of taking 2.06 shots – with 1.18 of these on target.

Playing against a defence that averages two goals conceded per game on average, Machach will fancy his chances of scoring his sixth goal of the season.

  • Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 2: Zinedine Machach to Score
  • Best Odds: 4.00
  • Bookmaker: bet365
  • Stake: 5/10

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Tip 3: Feisty Tussle

I’ve already mentioned how Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’s robust style of play sometimes leads to him being carded, with the 24-year-old picking up four yellows and a red already this season.

He is making 1.55 fouls per 90 and being fouled 1.38 times per 90, showing how involved he gets in games. The talisman’s direct opponent is Roderick Miranda, who excels at winding up attackers. In addition to this, six centre-backs have been shown a yellow card against Newcastle Jets this season.

While the veteran Portuguese defender only draws 0.55 fouls per 90, there has been seven yellows and two reds brandished to forwards facing off against Melbourne Victory.

Miranda also only makes 0.87 fouls per 90, a relatively small number in comparison to his five yellows and one red already this campaign. The 32-year-old often makes cynical fouls that see him booked on his first foul, and he has the tendency to argue with the referee.

It should be an intriguing physical battle between the two, so don’t be surprised to see it turn feisty later in the game.

  • Perth Glory vs Melbourne Victory Tip 3: Apostolos Stamatelopoulous and Roderick Miranda to be Booked
  • Best Odds: Awaiting Odds
  • Bookmaker: bet365
  • Stake: 2/10

Perth Glory vs Melbourne Victory Prediction odds via bet365 as at 10:00, January 29, 2024. Odds may now differ.


Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Team News Preview: Fornaroli a miss

Both teams are quite blessed on the absentee front, with only Carl Jenkinson missing through injury for the hosts, while the visitors are without top scorer Bruno Fornaroli.

Before the Asian Cup, Victory boss, Popovic, explained “We’ve been constantly putting players in different positions throughout the pre-season and the season thus far in anticipation that there could be an injury or a suspension. Obviously, it’s come up in a different way with the Socceroos call-up for Bruno but we feel we have good alternatives and good options in that area.”


Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Stats Preview: Goals Galore

  • The last seven meetings have seen at least three goals
  • Melbourne Victory have drawn the second most yellows per game (2.21)
  • Victory have drawn a league high 0.29 reds per game
  • Newcastle Jets have kept one league clean sheet
  • Melbourne Victory are the only unbeaten team left (Won 6, drawn 8)

How To Watch

  • Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory A League.
  • Date and Time: Saturday, February 3rd, 07:00 (UK)
  • How to Watch or Stream on TV (UK): TNT SPORTS

SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.

Share article:
Like the article:
0

latest comments

No comments yet
X
Chat