- Oakleigh Cannons have an away record in NPL Victoria 2026, winning seven and drawing four of their 11 away games to date, conceding just five goals.
- Bentleigh Greens have a poor home record, losing five of their 12 home games in NPL Victoria 2026 and conceding 27 goals.
- Oakleigh have the recent dominance in the head-to-head, beating Bentleigh 4-0 in the reverse fixture three months ago.
Pace-setters Oakleigh can turn the screw on struggling Greens
Oakleigh Cannons arrive on Friday as the pace-setters in NPL Victoria 2026, having accumulated 47 points from their first 22 matches, while Bentleigh Greens are languishing down in 12th spot on 19 points from 22.
The odds of 1.27 for an Oakleigh win tell you everything you need to know about the gap in class between these two sides, with Bentleigh listed at 8.3 and the draw at 5.15, so this preview will take a look at the finer points of this rivalry clash.
Oakleigh have won the last two meetings between these clubs and thrashed Bentleigh 4-0 when they played three months earlier in the 2026 season. The Cannons have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five games, while Bentleigh have won just one of their last five, losing four times.
Tight game likely with Bentleigh capable of frustrating Cannons
Their away record is filthy strong, with seven wins and four draws from 11 trips, conceding just five goals in the process. Bentleigh have a very average home record, with four wins, three draws and five losses in NPL Victoria 2026 and they have shipped 27 goals in their 12 home fixtures.
Oakleigh are the clear favourites, but Bentleigh are the local rivals and can potentially make this a tight game. Bentleigh's 4-4-2 system is geared towards getting bodies behind the ball, with compact and disciplined defensive shapes that can block passing lanes and create a game of transition.
Oakleigh play on the front foot, with flexible attacking shapes that can change quickly and they have the edge in the set-piece department, so we expect them to dominate the second balls on Friday. A 2-2 draw in the BTTS market has some appeal in this rivalry game, but the class edge and away form of Oakleigh means they are still the most likely winner in our eyes.
