- Eastern Lions have a superior overall head-to-head record against Nunawading City in Victorian statewide competitions (W6).
- Nunawading City have the better recent record in this fixture, including a 3-1 win over Eastern Lions this season.
Lions are solid at home but lack clean sheets
Two teams in the mid-logs of the Victoria Premier League 2 will meet on Friday when Eastern Lions host Nunawading City in a Melbourne derby that could be crucial to each club’s prospects of having a good mid-season finish.
The Lions are in the better form of the two, having won 3-1 at Gardiners Creek Reserve, but have struggled to keep clean sheets away from home. In fact, midfielder Andrew Cara, striker Cameron Saul and other Eastern Lions creators are capable of scoring from anywhere on the pitch, as they did in their recent 3-1 win at Gardiners Creek Reserve.
Daniel Puşcaşu’s men are solid in their shape, compact and well structured, but can produce waves of high-tempo football in transition - a characteristic that could turn this match at any stage. Saul was the star of the show in their 3-1 win last time out, but Puşcaşu has a number of players to play with in the advanced areas as long as they keep their balance.
Nunawading are a livewire team
Steve Voursoukis’ Nunawading City side are a more lively team, pressing hard and getting after the ball at every opportunity with a positive philosophy that can produce goals in waves. In their two wins this season they scored five goals, including a 3-1 victory over these opponents, but their 5-1 drubbing shows what happens when they are breached.
Nunawading City forwards Nedžib Ramić and Filipo Gioffre are both a constant threat to score, while goalkeepers Christian Pavlidis and Thom Jonkerman will have to be at their best if the visitors are to avoid conceding too many quality chances.
Swirling winds can play a part
Gardiners Creek Reserve is a ground with a bit of everything - a great surface and facilities, but often a swirling wind that can make the ball dip and swerve in unpredictable ways. Morning showers are possible for Friday, which may subside before kick-off, but the pitch might be a little heavy and against the grain. Nunawading’s high-tempo, front-foot approach should be suited to it and they can create some space to play into, but possession is not likely to be comfortable for either side.
The bookies are making Eastern Lions the slight favourites at 2.24 with Nunawading a touch of odds-against at 2.55. Our recommendation is to go with the home side by a single goal, but we are taking the odds-on market of ‘BTTS - Yes’ at 1.49 because it is highly likely that both teams will score. A 1-1 draw is the best value correct score play in this derby, which could go either way in what should be a cagey midfield battle.
