- Eastern Lions are mixed (W2, D1, L2) across their last five matches in all competitions.
- Werribee City are mixed-to-poor (W1, D1, L3) across their last five in all comps.
- Eastern Lions have had the better of the H2H meetings in recent years.
Two struggling teams, a game of chess
Eastern Lions and Werribee City are locked at around 20 points apiece in Victoria Premier League 2 and this match-up between the two sides currently sitting around 10th and 11th will be a six-pointer for the mid-table places.
There has been little to split these two sides across their recent H2H meetings but Eastern Lions have had the slight edge, although they drew 2-2 at Werribee City the last time they faced off in the competition in Victoria Premier League 2.
A brace from Zewdie Eyob turned the game on its head with the Eastern Lions winger netting his second from the penalty spot to give his side a point.
Eyob, who also scored in their 4-1 win in 2023, will be the one to watch for the home side on Friday.
Lions are looking for the win
Eastern Lions have been in decent enough form since a 5-1 thumping away at Werribee City in 2024, although their 2-1 loss to Goulburn Valley Suns last time out was somewhat frustrating. Chris Greechan's side are more possession-based and try to play their way out of the defensive third, which gives them a good shape to nick games if they can avoid being overrun.
Greechan's team are coming into this one off the back of a 4-0 win over Kingston City and a 2-0 success against Nunawading City, so they will be keen to bounce back with a result against Werribee City. Tyreke Johnson will give the Lions a bit of punch in the front line, suggesting he could be the man to nick it in this match.
City to get stuck in
Werribee City have looked quite fragile of late, being held 0-0 by Altona City just days after they were thumped 4-0 at Whittlesea United and lost 3-2 to Essendon Royals. Sergio Sabbadini's side have opted for the direct approach so far this term, with long balls, physical duels and set pieces the order of the day. That approach has seen them pick up some results but they have also conceded a lot of goals in those defeats and this could be another game where they are either up or down on the half-time break. Paul Kuol is a live wire, particularly after he opened the scoring in the H2H, and Ashe Ellis, who has also hit the net in this fixture recently, will be another to watch.
Draw on the cards in tight match-up
Eastern Lions are a touch too short in the outright market at 1.95 here, with the draw at 3.64 and Werribee City at 3.18. However, Eastern Lions do have the better of the form lines and overall H2H record, so we will give them the edge in this clash.
Over 2.5 goals at 1.54 and both teams to score at 1.48 look good options for this game, suggesting an open affair is in store, but the draw markets also scream close contest. We are going with the two teams to cancel each other out, although Eastern Lions could nick it by the odd goal in 90 minutes.