After a week off for the international break, the exciting 2023-24 A-League season returns this weekend with Matchday 22. Action resumes with a very tight table with the Phoenix and the Mariners currently battling it out for top spot, while there’s just five points separating spots 5-8 and only three points between 9-12. As always, we have you covered with our best bets for the weekend!
A-League Round 22 Preview & Betting Tips
Adelaide United vs Western United
Friday 29th March, 7.45pm (AEDT)
Adelaide United were finally able to snap their winless streak at seven with a win in Round 21 against another struggling side in the Jets.
Perhaps even more importantly, there were some positive signs in defence as they were able to secure their first clean sheet since way back in Round 2.
Elsewhere, Western United continued their late season resurgence with a 2-2 draw against a quality Melbourne Victory outfit. They’re now four games in a row unbeaten and have picked up eight points during this stretch.
Western United have been glued to the bottom of the table for the majority of the season but can leap into 10th with a win on Friday. And on current form, they’re certainly worth having something on against the poor Reds.
Western United to Win
$3.45 (1 Unit)
Melbourne City vs Newcastle Jets
Saturday 30th March, 5.30pm (AEDT)
After a lengthy eight-game stretch where they were severely out of form, Melbourne City have bounced back with impressive wins in their past two outings.
Last season’s runners-up absolutely destroyed a hopeless Wanderers side last outing, banging in seven goals as they kept their second straight clean sheet.
For the Newcastle Jets, they simply cannot buy a win at the moment and haven’t tasted success since mid-January when they defeated the Roar.
On current form, this has all the makings of a one-sided affair and the odds somewhat display that. Still, I think there’s value in taking City to win by multiple goals.
Melbourne City -1
$2.30 (2 Units)
Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 30th March, 7.45pm (AEDT)
Sydney FC had their unbeaten streak snapped at eight last outing when they were taken down 2-1 by the current ladder-leaders in the Wellington Phoenix.
Despite the loss, Sydney have enjoyed a much-improved second half of the season and currently sit in fifth spot on the table and only four points behind third.
Similarly, the Central Coast Mariners have improved as the season has gone on and will enter Round 22 on a four-game win streak.
Impressively, the defending champs have won all four games without conceding a single goal and have now kept seven clean sheets from their last eight, which is simply unheard of.
Considering how dominant the Mariners have been of late, it’s crazy to get better than 3-1 odds about them here, regardless of the opponent. I’m more than happy to be on board the champs in this one.
Central Coast Mariners to Win
$3.10 (1.5 Units)
Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar
Sunday 31st March, 11.00am (AEDT)
The Wellington Phoenix train continues to go at high speeds as we enter the last phase of the regular season.
The Phoenix have lost only once since Round 10 and only three times on the season as a whole.
Last time out the Phoenix were too good for Sydney in a 2-1 win, which has kept them three points clear at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar’s inconsistencies continued last start when they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Macarthur. They’ve now been unable to secure back-to-back wins since late November.
The Roar are a competitive outfit on their day, but the current form of the Phoenix cannot be understated. They deserve to be shorter odds than they are and look to be one of the best bets of the weekend.
Wellington Phoenix to Win
$2.01 (3 Units)
Melbourne Victory vs Perth Glory
Sunday 31st March, 3.00m (AEDT)
Melbourne Victory have struggled to replicate the form they displayed in the first half of the season. They enter Round 22 having won only twice from their last 11 fixtures.
Likewise, Perth Glory have found wins hard to come bye of late and have only secured two points from their last four games, scoring only three times during that stretch.
Victory have also struggled to find the back of the net lately, scoring more than one goal in only four of their last 11 games.
With both teams falling in and out of form, the only constant seems to be the lack of scoring they’re doing.
With that said, having something on the unders is the only bet with any real appeal in this one.
Under 3.5 Goals
$1.70 (1 Unit)
Macarthur FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Monday 1st April, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Macarthur FC have put together a relatively consistent 2023-24 campaign to date and enter Round 22 in third spot on the table as a result.
They found a strong 2-1 win last outing against Brisbane Roar which made it three wins from their last four away fixtures.
Meanwhile, the Western Sydney Wanderers were able to bounce back from three horror losses in a row to defeat Perth Glory 2-1 in Round 11.
There were still unable to keep a clean sheet and have now conceded a whopping 15 goals from their last four games, which is by far the most in the competition.
Simply put, Macarthur are by far the more trustworthy team and deserve to be the odds-on favourites in this clash in my opinion. I like them at the moneyline to close out the round.
Macarthur FC to Win
$2.62 (2 Units)
