The following are previews with betting tips for Round 25 of the 2016/17 A-League season.
View and compare the latest A-League bookmaker odds
View the A-League form guide
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Adelaide United v Perth Glory7:50 PM EST), Coopers Stadium |
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TEAM NEWS
Riley McGree’s anticipated debut for the Socceroos did not eventuate but he will be better for the experience. He returns to the Adelaide squad along with Marcelo Carrusca as the Reds seek their third win on the trot.
Perth midfielder, Brandon Wilson, makes a much needed return to the squad with stocks running low in the center of the park.
Nebo Marinkovic is out with a groin strain, joining Rostyn Griffiths on the treatment table, while Socceroo Rhys Williams is suspended.
VERDICT
The Reds will be buoyed by recent form and the fact that they leapfrogged the Mariners to get themselves off the foot of the table. A brace by new signing Baba Diawara, and a towering header by Dylan McGowan, completed an impressive second-half comeback which saw Adelaide United trailing 1-0 at the break.
Perth’s defensive woes don’t seem to be going away any time soon. The 3-0 home defeat to Sydney FC was their second on the bounce, losing 4-1 to Melbourne Victory a fortnight ago. Glory has now conceded 10 in their last 3 outings while their season concession of 47 goals is the worst in the league. New signing, Lucian Goian, will looking to improve on a nightmare debut that saw him score an own goal and get a bit of a run around in his first taste of A-League football.
Nick’s tip: Adelaide -0.25ah @2.2 (SBOBet)
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Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers5:35 PM EST), Hunter Stadium |
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TEAM NEWS
Newcastle midfield pair, Kantarovski and Poljak, have been promoted after missing on selection in last week’s fateful trip to Wellington.
Youngster, Johnny Koutroumbis, is out for up to two weeks after been substituted with a groin complaint.
Wanderers’ captain Dimas returns from personal leave after flying back to Spain to witness the birth of his baby daughter.
In a big loss for the visitors, in-form striker Brendan Santalab is out through suspension after bagging his first hat-trick for the club, against Melbourne City.
VERDICT
With just two wins since the turn of the year, Newcastle were finally put out of their misery in embarrassing fashion, at the hands of Wellington. The 5-0 defeat ended any hope of a play-off appearance while the nature of the result may signify that perhaps everything is not rosy in the dressing room.
The Wanderers are hitting their straps at just the right time with an impressive, come-from-behind, 3-1 win over Melbourne City. Brendan Santalab is getting all the headlines, and rightly so with 5 goals in his last two outings, but Tony Popovic’s side is running like a well oiled machine. There is still work to be done though with a Top 4 position and home final firmly in their sights.
Nick’s tip: Western Sydney -0.25ah @1.94 (Pinnacle)
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Sydney FC v Melbourne City7:50 PM EST), Allianz Stadium |
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TEAM NEWS
Premiership winner Sydney FC is boosted by the return of Socceroos, Danny Vukovic and Rhyan Grant. Both were unused substitutes in Australia’s two internationals against Iraq and UAE, respectively.
City retain the services of veteran Socceroo, Tim Cahill, who played a total of just 20 minutes in Australia’s latest qualifiers.
VERDICT
Sydney FC swept Perth, defeating them for the third time this season to claim the Premiership title with 3 rounds to spare. The 3-0 win was a relatively routine one for the Sky Blues as they stroked the ball around with the greatest of ease. Despite been touted as the best side ever assembled in A-League history, even better than Ange’s ‘Roarcelona’, Graham Arnold keeps repeating that there’s more to come from his chargers.
Melbourne City continue to underwhelm against the better sides in the competition. The limp 3-1 loss to Western Sydney was indicative of that after Neil Kilkenny got his side off to the best possible start. Aside from Nick Fitzgerald, who is in sparkling form, the rest of the side capitulated under the energy shown by the home side. With the play-offs fast approaching, City are likely to bow out at the first hurdle if they play true to form.
Nick’s tip: No tip.
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Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix5:00 PM EST), AAMI Park |
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TEAM NEWS
Victory will aim to get back to winning ways with the return of their international stars. Of the four who were away on international duty, Besart Berisha made the longest trek after a round trip to Albania and back, while representing Kosovo.
Nix manager, Des Buckingham, has a real head scratcher to deal with this weekend as a glut of international stars return on the back of last week’s 5-0 win over Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Fiji international Roy Krishna will have had an interesting week in training after his national team went down to an All Whites outfit that included several club teammates.
VERDICT
Kevin Muscat is likely to restore his top men after a depleted side were on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat in Brisbane, last week. It was a spirited performance by an undermanned outfit as Victory threw everything but the kitchen sink at the tiring hosts, late on. With second position assured, Muscat will be looking for a good run of form going into the finals.
Trailing sixth-placed Western Sydney by 5 points with three games to play, Wellington are hoping for some divine intervention. At least they’ve given themselves every chance after a fine 5-0 win at Westpac Stadium. Seemingly crippled by international call-ups, the brilliant Kostas Barbarouses led the Nix to an improbable thrashing of the Jets.
Nick’s tip: Over 3 goals @1.67 (Pinnacle)
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Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners7:00 PM EST), Suncorp Stadium |
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TEAM NEWS
John Aloisi must decide whether to recall centre-back Jade North after the veteran was left on the bench for the first time this season, against Melbourne Victory.
With finals football mathematically out of reach, Mariners’ gaffer Paul Okon may decide to give several youth players a run out. Youngsters Steve Whyte and Lachlan Wales have been included in the squad while Michael Neill returns from international duty with the Olyroos.
Club captain, Nick Montgomery, faces a one match suspension for accumulating his 8th yellow card of the season.
VERDICT
Jamie MacLaren answered Ange Postecoglou’s call for improvement with a fantastic lob over stranded Victory keeper, Lawrence Thomas. It was enough to see off the valiant visitors with former Greece international, Avraam Papadopoulos, steady on his home debut. Brisbane will be gunning for not only a morale boosting win but a convincing performance to match, against bottom table Central Coast.
The Mariners are likely to claim their second wooden spoon on the bounce. The 3-2 defeat to Adelaide United, in the clash of the ‘cellar dwellers’, demoted the Mariners to the foot of the table. On a bright note, Appiah-Kubi and Liam Rose continues to impress under the guidance of Paul Okon.
Nick’s tip: Brisbane -1.25ah @1.83 (Pinnacle)
