Juan Mata made his return in a winning performance and is already focused on the title play-off. Melbourne Victory will face Sydney FC in a single-leg knockout tie. Having recovered from an elbow injury, the Spaniard played the final ten minutes as his side closed the regular season with a 0–2 win away to Western Sydney Wanderers.
Mata’s former club had chances to take the lead, but Melbourne Victory kept a clean sheet and sealed the result after the break through goals from Santos and Vergos. The three points secured a fourth-place finish, meaning they will host the play-off against Sydney FC.
It marked the end of a strong regular season campaign, with Mata’s side collecting 40 points. They finished as the third-highest scoring team in the competition, with Mata contributing five goals and 13 assists. The Asturian was the player directly involved in the most goals.
The focus now shifts to overcoming a single-leg tie against a club of Sydney FC’s stature, the competition’s best defensive side. Melbourne Victory have earned the right to play at home, where AAMI Park is expected to see an excellent turnout, with ticket prices starting at €22 (€8 for young fans), as the league continues to keep these fixtures accessible. The match will be played on Saturday, May 2, at 19:40 local time. The semi-finals, played over two legs, will take place during the second and third weeks of May.
