- Bentleigh Greens are winless in their last 4 home matches (D2, L2).
- South Melbourne have 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats away from home this season.
South Melbourne to edge tense clash at Bentleigh Greens
Bentleigh Greens SC host South Melbourne FC in what could be a very tense fixture given that both teams have been in poor form lately and both sides are in desperate need of points to jump-start their respective seasons.
Bentleigh Greens are 12th in the NPL Victoria 2026 table having collected just 16 points from 16 games so far, and they're now on a 2-match losing streak after being thumped 4-0 away to Avondale FC and 1-5 at home by Hume City FC.
However, their last 5 results tell a story of a team in decline, with 2 draws and 3 defeats since their most recent victory, and it is difficult to see how the Greens can get 3 points on Friday. They have won just 3 of their 9 home matches in NPL Victoria 2026 this season, drawing 3 and losing 3, and have conceded 20 goals in the process, which is a concerning statistic for any team.
South Melbourne are 9th in the table with 22 points from 16 matches, which is 6 more points than Bentleigh Greens have accumulated so far, but they have also gone through a similarly poor run in recent weeks.
South Melbourne’s superior away stats and head-to-head advantage are key
The visitors are without a win in 5 matches (D1, L4) and are also in need of some breathing space to climb the table.
South Melbourne are the favourites here at 1.68, with Bentleigh Greens listed as the battlers at 3.78 and the draw at 4.15, but we feel the odds are slightly on the side of an away win here.
South Melbourne have the superior away record, averaging a respectable 1.12 goals conceded on their travels in 8 matches, and they also have the better head-to-head record, having won their last 3 meetings with the Greens.
With Sinisa Cohadzic's South Melbourne playing with a more flexible system since his arrival as manager in May 2025, and with an increase in squad rotation, they have been more susceptible to defensive errors and inconsistent results. But this fixture is a local derby and South Melbourne's style of play is possession-based and led by the midfield, and they are likely to have enough quality to break the stubborn Bentleigh Greens down on Friday.
Both teams to score looks a solid play
The home side will set up to be compact and limit central space, looking to transition quickly, but they are very vulnerable to high press and tempo, which South Melbourne will have in buckets.
The Greens have been leaky at the back this term and South Melbourne have their own issues in defence, so there is a lot to like about the 'Both teams to score - Yes' market at 1.45.
