- Preston have won two of the four head-to-head meetings between these sides since 2018, including the last Australia Cup preliminary clash (W3-0).
- Nunawading City have failed to keep a clean sheet in recent matches, but have continued to score.
- Preston Lions have won four and drawn one of their last six league and cup matches, including a 2-0 win over Dandenong City in the FFA Cup preliminary.
Cup contest between two Melbourne sides
Melbourne’s mild and partly sunny conditions on Thursday should be ideal for Nunawading City and Preston Lions to rekindle their Australia Cup rivalry.
The Lions, who have won 2 of their 4 meetings with City since 2018, ran out 3-0 winners in their 2018 preliminary clash, and both clubs will feel that they have a great chance of causing a coup and going deep in the cup this year.
Nunawading boss Steve Voursoukis has an appetite for giant-killing, and has previously led his side to victory against NPL Victoria teams in this competition. He is an attacking coach who likes to have the ball and has a frontline in this fixture that can cut through the defence with pace and directness.
Marcelo Arapis will head the attack on Thursday after his brace in the cup last time out. The striker remains the most prolific player in the squad and will be their main goal threat in this clash.
Lleyton Brooks is Preston’s main weapon as an attacking winger who is just as capable of scoring as creating. He is a key attacking outlet for the Lions. Brooks is the difference-maker when the Lions face tight games, as he proved in the cup prelim when the Lions beat Dandenong City 2-0.
Preston Lions have the edge
Preston’s Markovski is an attack-minded coach who has given his side an identity that is wide, fast and first-time, which has brought renewed life to the squad.
Cian Cuba and Gian Albano give his team a creative spark, and both will provide a constant threat from set-pieces and corners, where they can release the talented Brooks.
Daniel Maclennan and Alex Kubenko will be the fulcrums for Nunawading in midfield and defence. They need to be on their game when the Lions press high to avoid being broken, as the VPL2 side are defensively naive and could be caught in transition.
But, with Preston’s superior firepower and with City shipping multiple goals in recent games, the over 2.5 goals market (1.33) is a reasonable alternative to the outright market, where Lions are 1.22 and City 5.1.
Preston’s aggregate goals for and against figures across all competitions (11-7) already eclipse Nunawading’s and the Lions look to be worth backing for a 2-0 or 2-1 win this Thursday.