2025/26 A-League Tips | Round 4

Both New Zealand sides are off to solid starts this season, yet to lose through three rounds of action.

It has been hard going for the Nix though, drawing both away games and needing a late winner at home against Brisbane in Round 2.

But they are showing some impressive resilience to keep grinding out results in tough, even matches.

Auckland will be their toughest test of the season so far, with the reigning premiers winning their last two on the back of a Round 1 draw in Melbourne.

All three derbies last season were won by Steve Corica’s men with the last one in February finishing 6-1 in their favour and the lone one in Wellington 2-0.

While Auckland do have a couple of injury concerns in their squad, they looked good even after his departure against Adelaide last weekend and they should be able to find a way past a plucky opponent.

While the stakes are considerably lower than the last time these two clubs faced off, this is just as tough of a match to call.

On paper City do look to have the slight edge in terms of top end squad talent and youthful depth, but they also have the potential hangover from a draining clash on Friday night in Brisbane before a midweek ACL Elite fixture in Japan midweek.

However they should be able to rally and get themselves up for the derby knowing they have the international break coming up.

As for the Victory it was hard to fault their professional display in Perth last weekend but they have only won three of the last ten derbies, with one coming in a penalty shootout.

Through three weeks it has been a real mixed bag for the Victory though with a couple of good performances bookmarking a horror in the Hunter, losing 5-2 to the Jets.

Just like their rivals though, I’m expecting something close to the Victory’s best in this game and that has me leaning towards the draw.

Five of the last eight matches between City and the Victory have been level after 90 minutes and another one looks like the value play in this market.