Ireland's national soccer team player Damien Duff stands before their international friendly soccer match against Hungary in Budapest's Puskas stadium June 4, 2012.
Ireland's national soccer team player Damien Duff stands before their international friendly soccer match against Hungary in Budapest's Puskas stadium June 4, 2012. Bernadett Szabo

On Dec. 20, Melbourne City FC will take on Melbourne Victory FC for the second Melbourne Derby of the 2014-15 edition of the Hyundai A-League. The match will take place at the AAMI Park, Melbourne from 2 pm local time. With the inaugural FFA Cup done and dusted it is time to put the focus back on the domestic league.

Melbourne City FC have struggled in the league so far this season. After nine matches they are on nine points. They have won just two games, drawn three and lost four. They have scored 13 goals and conceded 19 in return. They are below the 2015 A-League Final series qualification spots by one point. Spain World Cup winning striker David Villa has been able to score just two goals in the four appearances so far. Irish winger Damien Duff is yet to score even though he has played in all the nine matches so far.

After 10 rounds of matches Melbourne Victory FC, whose last trophy winning season coincided with the birth of Melbourne City FC, are second on the league table with 22 points from ten matches. They are yet to lose a game with six wins and four draws to their credit. They have scored the most goals in the league so far at 24 and have conceded only 11 in return. They are behind the league leaders Perth Glory FC by just three points. Albanian striker Besart Berisha is the top scorer for the team with eight goals, five of them scored in the A-league. Aussie striker Archie Thompson is the second top scorer with four goals, three of them coming in the league.

The last time that these two teams faced off, it was late October and Melbourne Victory FC won that match at home with a five two score line. Archie Thompson scored a brace while Besrat Berisha scored a hat trick for the home side. Rob Wielaert and Jason Hoffman reduced the deficit for the visitors. Even if Melbourne City FC think of exacting revenge for that earlier defeat at most what they can hope for is a draw. In all probability Melbourne Victory FC should win the match and chase Perth Glory FC for the top position at the league table.

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