Another weekend of 2024-25 A-League action is upon us but this time we have a full six fixture slate to look forward to. The weekend kicks off on Friday night with an important battle between Adelaide and Macarthur, before we’re treated with two games on Saturday and a huge triple-header on Sunday. There are juicy matchups everywhere you look, and we’ve provided our three best bets for the Round 23 below!
A-League Round 23 Preview & Betting Tips
Adelaide United vs Macarthur FC
Coopers Stadium, Friday 14th March, 7:35pm AEDT
Adelaide United host Macarthur FC in a crucial clash between two sides struggling for form. Adelaide sit fifth on the A-League ladder with 31 points but have failed to win any of their last four matches, collecting just two points in that stretch. Macarthur, meanwhile, are eighth with 25 points and have fared even worse, managing only one point from their past five outings. Both teams will be desperate to break their poor runs and get their finals hopes back on track.
These teams have already met once this season, with Adelaide claiming a 2-1 win, their first victory in four meetings against Macarthur. Despite that result, the Bulls have been a tricky opponent for the Reds in recent encounters, and given the current form of both sides, there is little reason why Adelaide should be such strong favourites. Their attack has been inconsistent, while defensively, they have struggled to keep clean sheets.
Macarthur may be sitting lower on the table, but if they can rediscover some confidence, they are more than capable of causing an upset. Their attacking play has shown promise in patches this season, and with Adelaide vulnerable, the Bulls could represent great value to take all three points.
Macarthur to Win
$4.50 (1 Unit)
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory
CommBank Stadium, Saturday 15th March, 7:30pm AEDT
Western Sydney Wanderers take on Melbourne Victory in a crucial battle between two sides pushing for finals positions. The Wanderers sit sixth on the A-League ladder with 31 points, while Victory are fourth with 33 points. With the Wanderers having a game in hand, there is virtually nothing separating these two clubs across the season, making this a pivotal clash in the race for the top spots.
In recent form, the Wanderers have been dominant, winning four of their last five matches and scoring 13 goals in their last four alone. Their attacking firepower has been a key factor in their surge up the table. Meanwhile, Victory have been less convincing, picking up two wins, two draws, and a loss in their last five matches. While they remain a dangerous side, their inconsistency has seen them lose ground in the standings.
When these teams met earlier this season, they played out a 2-2 draw in Melbourne. Now, with the Wanderers hosting and in red-hot attacking form, they will be confident of securing all three points. Given their recent dominance in front of goal, Western Sydney look great value to come out on top in this evenly matched contest.
Wanderers to Win
$2.50 (2 Units)
Newcastle Jets vs Western United
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 16th March, 5:00pm AEDT
*This was written before Newcastle’s Wednesday fixture against Melbourne City*
Newcastle Jets take on Western United in what promises to be an attacking shootout between two in-form sides. The Jets have completely transformed their season, going unbeaten in their last six matches with three wins in that span. Now sitting ninth on the ladder, they remain nine points off sixth place but have a game in hand. Their recent results have been impressive, including a 1-1 draw against ladder-leading Auckland and wins over Adelaide and Melbourne Victory. More importantly, their attack has found form, scoring in each of their last six matches.
Western United have also been in scintillating form, climbing to second on the ladder with three straight wins. They have lost just once in their last eight matches and, like Newcastle, have been scoring freely. Their last three wins have seen them net multiple goals in each match, and their attacking combinations have been clicking at the right time. When these sides met earlier this season, United claimed a 3-1 victory, and given both teams' recent firepower, another high-scoring contest is likely.
With both sides in hot attacking form, this matchup should be full of goals. Expect an end-to-end battle where both teams will back themselves to outscore the other.
BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals
$1.72 (2.5 Units)
