A sell-out crowd will witness history at AAMI Park on Saturday night as rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City go head-to-head in the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final. aleagues.com.au previews the blockbuster showpiece.
Saturday night’s historic Isuzu UTE A-League blockbuster will see Melbourne City and rivals Melbourne Victory vie for ultimate supremacy in more ways than one.
This is the first ever Melbourne Derby Grand Final in the 20-year history of the competition and it is sold out after Victory and City saw off reigning premiers Auckland FC and Western United respectively.
VISIT THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE FINALS SERIES HUB
“For a Grand Final to be at AAMI Park, a packed out AAMI Park against Victory, it doesn’t really get much better than that,” City star Kai Trewin said this week.
TUNE IN THIS SATURDAY: How to watch the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final 2025
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know for Saturday’s title decider
Victory now have the chance to claim a fifth Championship and first since 2018, while 2021 champions City are eyeing their second title thanks to reaching a fifth Grand Final in six years.
Bragging rights are on the line at AAMI Park, as the biggest Melbourne Derby in history will not only crown this season’s champions but also the most successful outfit in the city, with the two clubs currently tied on 13 major trophies apiece across their men’s and women’s sides.
DEEP DIVE: Why Victory skipper shapes as key to Grand Final glory
VISIT THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE FINALS SERIES HUB
| Melbourne Victory | Melbourne City |
| Isuzu UTE A-League Championship 2007, 2009, 2015, 2018 | Isuzu UTE A-League Championship 2021 |
| Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership 2006-07, 2008-09, 2014-15 | Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 |
| Australia Cup 2015, 2021 | Australia Cup 2016 |
| Ninja A-League Championship 2013-14, 2020-21, 2021-22 | Ninja A-League Championship 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 |
| Ninja A-League Premiership 2018-19 | Ninja A-League Premiership 2015-16, 2019-20, 2023-24, 2024-25 |
City take an eight-game unbeaten streak into the Grand Final (W5 D3), while Victory have only lost two of their past eight matches (W5 D1).
JOHNNY MARREN MEDAL: Nicolas Milanovic crowned the Isuzu UTE A-League’s best
Victory, though, are unbeaten in three Melbourne Derby fixtures this season, while City have not won a match against their fierce rivals since April 2023.
As for City head coach Aurelio Vidmar, he is winless in seven career showdowns against Victory, including the 2009 Grand Final while in charge of Adelaide United.
“I mean on form, you’re talking Melbourne City, right? They go in with incredible form,” Sydney FC legend Alex Brosque said on this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues.
“They’ve been so solid defensively, so strong at the back, and they can frustrate Melbourne Victory, I think. But then you look at the games they’ve played during the season, and Melbourne Victory have got the upper hand there, undefeated against Melbourne City in all three derbies.
VISIT THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE FINALS SERIES HUB
“Melbourne Victory (lift) in big games, in big occasions as well. So look, I do think in a tight game, and this will be a tight game, which is why I’m leaning more towards City.
“I think they know that their defence is good enough to rely on, but they know as well, with (Marco Tilio) going forward, (Matthew) Leckie, whether he starts or comes on as well, they’ve got a lot of quality going forward, and they can hurt victory.
“So for me, that’s where it’s won. With Victory’s attack and the amount of quality they have going forward, Melbourne City can frustrate them, and I think they will. And that’s why I’m predicting a very, very narrow City win.”
Another layer to this historic Grand Final comes in the form of Bruno Fornaroli.
The evergreen Melbourne Victory striker was once a Melbourne City hero, but has now helped the navy blue qualify for the Grand Final thanks to his exploits in New Zealand last week.
Fornaroli was brought to Australia by Melbourne City in 2015 and scored 57 goals across 83 appearances for the club, winning the 2016 Australia Cup. He has now spent the past three campaigns at Victory following a mid-season switch from Perth Glory.
VISIT THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE FINALS SERIES HUB
But Fornaroli – a Golden Boot winner and Mark Viduka Medallist – has never got his hands on an Isuzu UTE A-League Championship.
After emerging from the wilderness this season having been demoted by former boss Patrick Kisnorbo, the 37-year-old Socceroo looms as a central figure in this season’s decider.
It is also shaping as a decisive moment in the career of Fornaroli.
“For me, it’s everything, actually, after 10 years fighting and fighting and give everything for football and try to be a top professional, good teammate, and help everyone close to me and and try to do everything right,” Fornaroli, who played in last season’s Grand Final loss to Central Coast Mariners, said on Total A-Leagues.
“I think it’s time.
“I believe in football gods. And then sometime if someone asked me, you wanna win two or three leagues, or you wanna win one. And could be like this, probably I will. I will sign this one.
“This is 90 minutes or 120 or penalties, but we have to take it. This is the time to win this title for me and the club, and obviously for our fans that are waiting this for a long time. So it’s time to put Victory back where they deserve.”
MORE GRAND FINAL READING
ICONIC: Top 10 moments in Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final history
TEAM OF THE YEAR: PFA reveal player-voted Team of the Season
TEAM NEWS: Grand Final ins & outs as squads locked in
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know for the Grand Final
INJURY LATEST: Victory boss provides update on Nishan Velupillay
ANDREAS KUEN: City star’s 13-year quest could end this weekend
ARTHUR DILES: From rookie to Grand Final boss in 115 days
