Viettel FC vs Melbourne Victory Verdict
A low-scoring AFC Champions League Two opener is predicted with Melbourne Victory the value to edge to victory in Vietnam.
- Under 2.5 goals has landed in five of Victory's last six games in all comps
- Under 2.5 goals has landed in eight of Viettel's last nine games in all comps
- Victory are unbeaten in six of their last seven games in all comps
- Victory have advanced to the Australia Cup final this A-League preseason
- Viettel have lost two of their last three games in all comps
Head To Head
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
Viettel FC Form
Viettel finished the last V. League 1 season in second spot on the ladder, 10 points adrift of champions and rivals Cong An Ha Noi.
Although they secured continental football, it was a disappointing end to the campaign, with Viettel suffering a 4-1 defeat to Phu Dong Ninh Binh in the semi-finals of the Vietnamese Cup.
Velizar Popov's side managed to launch the new V. League 1 season with a win, beating Truong Tuoi Dong Nai 2-0, with American defender Kyle Colonna and Brazilian attacker Ribamar getting amongst the goals.
However, Viettel couldn't make it back-to-back wins, losing to Cong An Ha Noi 1-0 this past weekend. This will be Viettel's first foray back into Asia since they competed in the 2021 Champions League.
Viettel FC Team News
Brazilian duo Lucao and Pedro Henrique were the two top scorers for Viettel last season, but both have departed the club.
Ribamar will likely lead the line after scoring in the V. League 1 opener. There's also an Aussie on the Viettel books, with Lawrence Caruso set to feature as the back-up goalkeeper on the bench.
Possible Viettel FC Starting XI (4-5-1): Nguyễn Văn Việt; Kyle Colonna, Phạm Trung Hiếu, Phan Tuấn Tài, Đinh Viết Tú; Lê Quốc Nhật Nam, Nguyễn Ngọc Tân, Paulo Tapeu, Wesley Natã, Andrê Luiz; Lucas Ribamar
Melbourne Victory Form
New head coach Giovanni Savarese made a winning start to life at Victory, guiding his side to a commanding 4-0 victory over Kingsborough Lions in the Australia Cup R32.
Philipp Ziereis, Matthew Grimaldi, Clarismario Santos and Keegan Jelacic all found the back of the net as Victory cruised into the Round of 16 with an emphatic display.
Victory faced a much tougher test in the next round, eventually overcoming Western Sydney Wanderers on penalties. Harry Sawyer scored in extra time before converting again in the shootout, while the Wanderers missed their final three spot-kicks to send Victory through to the quarter-finals.
Extra time was required again in the quarter-finals as Victory battled past a stubborn APIA Leichhardt. Sawyer was once again the match-winner, scoring the decisive goal following some brilliant lead-up play from Jelacic to secure Victory's place in the semi-finals.
Victory then toppled Sydney FC 2-0 on the road to advance into the Australia Cup final. Jelacic opened the scoring in the 2nd minute before an own goal from the Sky Blues in the second half.
Melbourne Victory Team News
Juan Mata has announced his departure from Victory, but the club have already found a replacement, signing Uruguayan attacker Guillermo May, who registered 16 goals and six assists in 56 games for Auckland.
Keegan Jelacic has been in fine form throughout the Australia Cup and looms as a key figure in Victory's attack, alongside striker Charles Nduka and Brazilian winger Santos.
Melbourne Victory Possible Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Jack Duncan, Joshua Inserra, Tom Lockyer, Jason Davidson, Franco Lino, Jordi Valadon, Louis D'Arrigo, Keegan Jelacic, Matthew Grimaldi, Santos, Charles Nduka