South Melbourne vs Auckland – Australia Cup Match Prediction & Lineups

A-League powerhouse Auckland FC travels to face South Melbourne in a compelling Australia Cup Round of 16 fixture on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. All eyes are on this match-up, as we provide a full preview, including team news, predicted lineups, and our expert Australia Cup prediction.

Match Preview: A David vs. Goliath Story?

Auckland FC enters this contest as the clear favorite. Competing in Australia’s top-tier A-League gives them a significant advantage in experience and quality over South Melbourne, who play in a state-level league. This will be the first time these two clubs ever face each other, making the South Melbourne vs Auckland H2H record a blank slate, but the difference in league stature speaks volumes.

Fans are eager to see if South Melbourne can leverage their home advantage to cause a major upset in the Australia Cup 2025.

Team News and Recent Form

South Melbourne comes into this game in solid form, remaining unbeaten in their last five matches with two wins and three draws. Their attack has been effective, scoring nine goals in that period.

Auckland FC, on the other hand, has had a mixed bag of results recently, with two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five outings. Despite this inconsistency, the latest Auckland FC news suggests they are focused and ready for this crucial cup tie. The quality of their A-League competition means they are battle-hardened and prepared for the pressure.

Predicted Lineups

Here’s how the teams might line up for this exciting encounter.

South Melbourne Predicted Lineup:
Diaz Lopez, Painter-Andrews, Marshall, Inglese, Lampard, Pope, Iwakami, Leech, Brennan, Bonada, Mikkola.

Auckland Predicted Lineup:
Woud, Sakai, Hall, Pijnaker, De Vries, Rogerson, Gallegos, Howieson, Francois, Randall, May.

Check the final South Melbourne vs Auckland lineups an hour before the kick-off time at 4:30 PM.

South Melbourne vs Auckland: Prediction

We predict a comfortable victory for Auckland. While South Melbourne will fight hard in front of their home crowd, Auckland’s superior skill and professional experience should be the deciding factor. The A-League side will likely dominate possession and create more scoring opportunities.

Expect an entertaining match with at least three goals. Our final prediction is a 3-1 win for Auckland.