FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Match Preview
A high-stakes encounter in the East Region takes place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December 2025. Melbourne City sit 2nd in the group standings with 9 points, just one point ahead of FC Seoul in 3rd. With only a few points separating the top spots, this match is a direct battle for seeding in the knockout rounds. Seoul are looking to bounce back from a disappointing domestic loss to Jeonbuk, while Melbourne City arrive in Korea with confidence after a solid win over Newcastle Jets.
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Match Info
- Competition: AFC Champions League Elite (League Phase)
- Venue: Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul (Capacity: 66,704)
- Date: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
- Kickoff: 19:00 KST | 21:00 AEDT | 10:00 GMT
- Referee: TBC (AFC Appointment)
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Match Stakes
FC Seoul (3rd — 8 pts):
- Win → Leapfrogs Melbourne City to take 2nd place (11 pts)
- Draw → Remains 3rd; risks dropping to 4th if chasing pack wins
- Loss → Gap to top 2 widens to 4 points; seeding danger
Melbourne City (2nd — 9 pts):
- Win → Moves to 12 pts, solidifying a Top 2 finish
- Draw → Maintains the 1-point buffer over Seoul
- Loss → Drops to 3rd; loses crucial momentum in the group stage
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Team News
FC Seoul:
- Lingard J. — Available (Key playmaker)
- Cho Young-wook — Available (Starting Forward)
- Ki Sung-yueng — Out (Knee Injury)
- Sulaka R. — Questionable (Muscle tightness)
Melbourne City:
- Leckie M. — Available (Captain)
- Behich A. — Available (Starting LB)
- Nabbout A. — Questionable (Ankle knock)
- Souprayen S. — Out (Suspension accumulation)
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
FC Seoul
- 30/11 — 1–2 vs Jeonbuk (K League 1)
- 25/11 — 3–1 vs Shanghai Port (ACL Elite)
- 22/11 — 1–3 vs Gimcheon Sangmu (K League 1)
- 09/11 — 0–0 vs Pohang Steelers (K League 1)
- 04/11 — 0–0 vs Chengdu Rongcheng (ACL Elite)
Melbourne City
- 06/12 — 1–0 vs Newcastle Jets (A-League)
- 29/11 — 0–0 vs Central Coast Mariners (A-League)
- 25/11 — 2–0 vs Johor DT (ACL Elite)
- 21/11 — 1–4 vs Adelaide United (A-League)
- 08/11 — 2–0 vs Melbourne Victory (A-League)
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- No previous competitive meetings found.
- This is the first-ever clash between these two sides in AFC competition.
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
FC Seoul (4-2-3-1)
Hyeon-mu; Jun Choi, Wan-kyu, Ju-sung, Tae-seok; Seung-mo, Do-yoon; Iljutcenko, Lingard, Willyan; Young-wook
Melbourne City (4-3-3)
Beach; Talbot, Good, Reis, Behich; Ugarkovic, Jeggo, Cohen; Leckie, Caputo, Tilio
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Impact Bench
FC Seoul: Palocevic (Set-piece specialist), Han-min Jung (Late pace)
Melbourne City: Arslan (Creative spark), Jakolis (Direct winger)
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Tactical Analysis
FC Seoul
Playing at home, Seoul will look to dictate possession through the midfield pivot of Seung-mo and Do-yoon. Their main threat comes from the transition speed of Jesse Lingard and Willyan. However, their recent defensive record (conceding 6 goals in the last 5 games) suggests vulnerability against counters. They must tighten up the backline to stop Melbourne’s wing play.
Melbourne City
City will stick to their high-energy pressing game. With Aziz Behich pushing high on the left overlap, they will try to overload Seoul’s full-backs. The key for Melbourne is efficiency; they create plenty of chances (as seen vs Johor DT) but can be wasteful. If they bypass Seoul’s press, Mathew Leckie will find space in the channels.
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Key Battles
- Lingard vs Ugarkovic — creative #10 vs defensive screen
- Young-wook vs Good — speed vs physical positioning
- Behich vs Jun Choi — battle of the attacking fullbacks
- Iljutcenko vs Reis — aerial dominance in the box
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Spotlight Players
FC Seoul — Jesse Lingard
The former Man United star is the X-factor for Seoul. In big Asian nights, his experience and ability to unlock deep defenses are vital. A goal contribution here could define their group stage campaign.
Melbourne City — Mathew Leckie
The veteran forward continues to lead by example. His work rate on the wing and ability to drift inside makes him a nightmare to mark. If City scores, Leckie is likely involved.
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Prediction
FC Seoul 1–1 Melbourne City
Seoul are tough to beat at home, but their recent form is shaky. Melbourne City have the defensive organization to frustrate the hosts. A tactical stalemate seems likely, with both teams settling for a point that keeps them in the top 3 mix.
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Betting Insights
- Both Teams to Score — YES
- Under 2.5 Goals — Possible
- Double Chance — Melbourne City or Draw
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Where to Watch
- South Korea: CJ ENM, tvN Sports
- Australia: Paramount+, 10 Play
- International: AFC Hub (YouTube), Sport 24
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — FAQs
Q: When is the FC Seoul vs Melbourne City match?
A: The match kicks off on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, at 19:00 KST (local time).
Q: Where is FC Seoul vs Melbourne City being played?
A: The match takes place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.
Q: Is Jesse Lingard playing for FC Seoul?
A: Yes. Jesse Lingard is fit and expected to start in the attacking midfield role.
Q: How can I watch FC Seoul vs Melbourne City in Australia?
A: Australian viewers can stream the match live on Paramount+ and 10 Play.
Q: Have these teams played each other before?
A: No. This is the first competitive meeting between FC Seoul and Melbourne City.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Who wins this Asian heavyweight clash?
If you enjoyed this preview, follow SportsphereArena.com for post-match ratings and tactical deep dives.
Stay connected for real-time updates across football.
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game.
👇 Comment your score prediction below 👇
READ MORE:-
10/12/2025 blockbuster Nail biting Matches
Real Madrid vs Manchester City — Match Preview
Club Brugge vs Arsenal — Match Preview
Athletic Bilbao vs Paris Saint-Germain — Match Preview
Benfica vs Napoli — Match Preview
Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Match Preview
Borussia Dortmund vs Bodø/Glimt — Match Preview
Hull City vs Wrexham — Match Preview
Bristol City vs Leicester City — Match Preview
Ipswich Town vs Stoke City — Match Preview
Rotherham United vs Blackpool — Match Preview
Oldham Athletic vs Walsall — Match Preview
FC Seoul vs Melbourne City — Match Preview
3 thoughts on “FC Seoul vs Melbourne City: Prediction, Lineups & Kickoff Time | AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26”