The 2015-16 A-league season continues this weekend and with just five rounds remaining every matches importance is increasing. Continue reading for our A-league Round 23 Preview and Betting Tips.
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Adelaide United vs Melbourne City (Friday 7.40pm AEDT)
The Reds continued their dominance across the a-league as they dismantled the Phoenix’s defence and secured a 4-0 victory on the road last week. The side’s progression is fairly remarkable and a lot of credit needs to be given to their coach Guillermo Amor who was under a lot of pressure during the opening eight weeks whilst the side struggled. They now have one of the most balanced playing styles as they have scored seven goals over the last two weeks whilst keeping two clean sheets.
There defence will need to be at its best again this weekend as they take on the best offence in the league and Bruno Fornaroli who scored a hat trick last week and became the first player in A-league history to score at least 20 goals throughout the regular season. They will need to be wary of Fornaroli as well as Aaron Mooy but we believe the Reds have proved they are up for the challenge. These two sides have met just once this season with Melbourne City coming out on top on the road but the Reds will get revenge in this one.
TIP: Adelaide @ $2.00 with Palmerbet
Sydney FC vs Wellington Phoenix (Saturday 5.15pm AEDT)
Disaster has struck for the Sky Blues as they have fallen out of the top six and are staring down the barrel of missing out on the finals. They need to turn things around immediately and luckily for them they are facing the Phoenix this weekend and they should be able to gather some momentum heading into the final rounds of the season. They were embarrassed last week and their failure to trouble the scorer’s sheet has been their issue all season long whilst their defence has now become easier to crack.
Meanwhile the Phoenix was pumped by the Reds and was never in the contest. They seem content to finish in second last place and are looking to just play out the rest of the season and enjoy their break. The Sky Blues will be far more desperate for the victory and they will finally be able to turn things around.
TIP: Sydney @ $1.60 with Ladbrokes
Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne Victory (Saturday 7.30pm AEDT)
The Roar earned their most important victory of the season in their last start as they defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers on home soil. They will remain at Suncorp Stadium this week as they have another crucial match this weekend against the Melbourne Victory. The Roar are currently five points above the defending champions but a loss would open the door and put them in danger of dropping to a lower position on the ladder. The Roar showed great character as they were able to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the second half to claim victory and breathe new life into their finals campaign. Jamie Maclaren’s importance in the side was proven once again as he scored the opening two goals for the side whilst Henrique came in off the bench to secure the winner.
The Victory are coming off a win themselves albeit against the bottom placed Mariners. It will be a confidence boost for the side to have the feeling of winning once against whilst sharp shooter Besart Berisha would have felt great seeing the ball hit the back of the net. The Victory embarrassed the Roar just over a month ago but we are expecting a much closer battle in this one and both sides will split the points.
TIP: Draw @ $3.55 with Sportsbet
Perth Glory vs Central Coast Mariners (Saturday 9.45pm AEDT)
The Mariners have now lost five straight matches in the league and they are destined to suffer their first wooden spoon in the clubs history. It has been a tough season for the club as they have been forced to field inexperienced and young players and they could learn a big lesson this weekend as they take on one of the most in form teams in the league.
The Glory returned to winning ways in a comfortable victory against the Jets as they moved into the top six for the first time this season. They are now in a position to make a push for the finals and this is a must win for the team as they are facing the worst team in the competition. The Glory has been able to score a lot of goals in games this season and we are backing them to win this match very easily.
TIP: HT/FT – Glory/Glory @ $2.15 with William Hill
Newcastle Jets vs Western Sydney Wanderers (Sunday 5pm AEDT)
The Jets are basically out of contention for the finals series and the Wanderers will be desperate in this match to earn the victory. They have dropped from top spot after suffering a loss to the Roar last week and they can’t afford back-to-back losses as we head into the final stages of the regular season especially against one of the lower teams in the competition.
The Wanderers have won the two previous matches between these sides this season and they have done it with relative ease. The away side will be relying on Mitch Nichols to control the match from the midfield and help to create plenty of chances for their leading scorer Mark Bridge. They will do enough to earn the victory in this one and remain near the top of the table.
TIP: Wanderers @ $1.70 with Sportsbet
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
