<p>The headline fixture of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/tips-predictions-soccer/a-league-round-5-2025">A-League round 5</a> sees traditional rivals Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory clash in the latest instalment of the ‘Big Blue’.</p> <p>In a change of pace, they’ll play this one in the suburban surroundings of Leichhardt Oval, which should ensure a packed house and an electric atmosphere.</p> <p>Both sides have been presented with somewhat of a clean slate thanks to the recent international break, but which side has made the most of their time off and sharpened their tools accordingly?</p> <p>There’s also an intriguing battle between the league’s two top creators in Joe Lolley and superstar import Juan Mata to keep an eye on.</p> <p>Which midfield maestro will help guide their side to victory? For all the latest analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of the Big Blue check out our Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Win-Draw-Win Prediction</h3> <p>Historically both Sydney and Melbourne have more often than not occupied the upper echelons of the ladder, however that is not the case so far this season for one of these sides.</p> <p>While Sydney are living up to their reputation as a perennial powerhouse, the wheels have come off the Victory wagon in alarming fashion.</p> <p>They sit in 9th, with just the one win to show for their troubles so far this season. That lone victory came against cellar dwellers Perth, so it’s nothing to write home about.</p> <p>Meanwhile Sydney sit second after a sizzling streak that has seen them win their last three on the spin by an aggregate score of 7-1.</p> <p>Al Hassan Toure is the man in form at the moment and his hat-trick against the Jets a few weeks back saw him earn a maiden Socceroos call up.</p> <p>He'll be the man to watch should he back up from international duty, as will Joe Lolley who will be looking to supply the ammo from out wide.</p> <p>Forget a big blue, this could be a big blowout if Victory are not very, very careful.&nbsp; One head coach Arthur Diles might not survive.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/australia/australian-a-league-men/sydney-fc-v-melbourne-victory-9801188">Sydney FC.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goalscorer Prediction</h3> <p>There are few players in the league at the moment with skills as sweet as Lolley. Able to both create and score from out wide with equally devastating effect, the Englishman has created more chances than anyone so far this season.</p> <p>He also has four goal contributions in four games to start the season and is our tip here to open the scoring.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/australia/australian-a-league-men/sydney-fc-v-melbourne-victory-9801188">Joe Lolley.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under 2.5 Goals</h3> <p>We don’t trust Victory to bring too many goals to this particular party in their current state, so if this market is to hit, Sydney will have to do most of, if not all, of the heavy lifting.</p> <p>Luckily, they have the personnel to do just that. The likes of the aforementioned Lolley and newly minted Socceroos squad member Al Hassan Toure have both been in fine touch to start the season.</p> <p>If Victory get off to a sluggish start, we expect Sydney to pile on the goals, breaching the 2.5 over/under watermark for this market.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/australia/australian-a-league-men/sydney-fc-v-melbourne-victory-9801188">Over 2.5 goals.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Both Teams to Score</h3> <p>The 'Both Teams to Score' market has failed to hit in each of Melbourne Victory's last four A-League matches as an underdog.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/australia/australian-a-league-men/sydney-fc-v-melbourne-victory-9801188">Both teams to score – no.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory Squads</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Sydney FC Squad</h3> <p>Gus Hoefsloot (GK)</p> <p>Jordan Courtney-Perkins</p> <p>Alex Grant</p> <p>Corey Hollman</p> <p>Piero Quispe</p> <p>Wataru Kamijo</p> <p>Victor Campuzano</p> <p>Joe Lolley</p> <p>Abel Walatee</p> <p>Harrison Devenish-Meares (GK)</p> <p>Pat Wood</p> <p>Joel King</p> <p>Tiago Quintal</p> <p>Rhyan Grant</p> <p>Paul Okon Jr</p> <p>Marcel Tisserand</p> <p>Al Hassan Toure</p> <p>Rhys Youlley</p> <p>Alexandar Popovic</p> <p>Akol Akon</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Melbourne Victory Squad</h3> <p>Jason Davidson</p> <p>Adama Traore</p> <p>Lachlan Jackson</p> <p>Jordi Valadon</p> <p>Nikolaos Vergos</p> <p>Denis Genreau</p> <p>Clerismario Santos Rodrigues</p> <p>Matthew Grimaldi</p> <p>Sebastian Esposito</p> <p>Joshua Inserra</p> <p>Jing Reec</p> <p>Roderick Miranda</p> <p>Joshua Rawlins</p> <p>Keegan Jelacic</p> <p>Jack Duncan</p> <p>Louis D’Arrigo</p> <p>Oliver Dragicevic</p> <p>Xavier Stella</p> <p>Jack Warshawsky</p> <p>Juan Mata</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday, November 22, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off:</strong> 7:35pm AEDT.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Leichhardt Oval, Sydney.&nbsp;</p>