The following are previews with betting tips for Round 1 of the 2019/20 A-League season.
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Friday, October 11
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Adelaide United v Sydney FC7:30 PM AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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When these two teams last faced of against each other, Sydney eventually proved to be victorious 2-0. Ghoochannejhad opened the scoring for the Sky Blue in just the 15th minute of the match. Devlin later made it two-nothing in the 94th minute of the game. That game, Sydney owned 52% of the ball and Adelaide 48%. Sydney shot 5/11 on target and Adelaide, 2/14. Their shooting severely hampered them in this affair. The Sky Blue also had a shot hit the woodwork. Passing wise both teams we’re pretty solid. Sydney completed their passes at an 81% rate, 450/559. And Adelaide was at 79%, 401/507. Sydney conceded 14 fouls and no cards. Adelaide gave away nine and only a single yellow. Discipline wise, both teams were pretty solid. FC have won seven of the past ten contests contested between these two sides. The other results have been an Adelaide victory and two draws. Before this game, the previous two results between Sydney and Adelaide had been a 2-1 victory to FC and the same exact result in Adelaide’s favour. In the latest 2-1 clash, de Jong, Tratt and Goodwin all got on the score-sheet for their respective sides.
Adam Le Fondre scored 18 goals last season. Kosta Barbarouses scored 15. They are the top two goal-scorers from last seasons A-League campaign that are still in the league. They are dominant, attacking, threatening players who back it up by putting the ball into the back of the net when their teams need it the most. They should be able to combine well against Adelaide to bag at least two collective goals in, if not more. Adelaide might struggle under sustained Sydney pressure and that is where this high-profile duo should pounce. What they can produce on the field will have a massive outcome on the game. And in Sydney’s loss to French giants PSG, the team attacked with intent and vigor. Expect a very, very competent display from the attack and those two men in particular.
Betting tip: Pick Sydney to win at $2.50 (TopBetta)
Also pick them to score first at $1.96 (BetEasy)
Saturday, October 12
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Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners5:15 PM AEDT, Bankwest Stadium |
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Western Sydney have dominated recent proceedings between these two sides, winning the past 4/5 clashes contested between the two. However, a Matt Simon double and a Rowles strike won it 3-1 for the Central Coast last time out. Mark Bridge was the Wanderers only goal-scorer that match as he found the back of the net in he 67th minute. A Rowles red card in the 71st minute made for a very tight finish to the contest. The Mariners shot six of twelve on target. And Western Sydney shot five of thirteen on target. Both teams were high with their accuracy shooting-wise in this game. Central Coast had 48% possession and th Wanderers 52%. The Mariners completed 78% of their passes, 261/336 and the Wanderers were at 80%, 295/369. Fouls wise both teams were very bad as the CCM gave up 17 and the WSW 16. The previous five matches before this one between both sides have seen the Wanderers post two goals in each one. And the last two have both been two-nil victories to Babbel’s men.
Daniel De Silva is the key player for this game. Despite mainly coming of the bench for Sydney last season, he still managed two goals. He also had 17 shot assists. The Mariners played Matt Simon up front in their final four clash against Adelaide in the FFA Cup. That just gives you an indication of what sort of options they have available to them at the moment! So De Silva, the former Roma youngster, will be absolutely crucial to any Mariners attack against Western Sydney. 82% Of his passes were accurate last campaign, as were 75% of his take ons. When given the chance, what he can do with the ball at his feet is simply amazing. Give him a chance and he’ll shine through against the Wanderers, no doubt at all.
Betting tip: Pick the Wanderers to be victorious at $1.72 (TopBetta, SportsBet)
Also pick the total goals to be 4+ at $2.30 (TopBetta)
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Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City7:30 PM AEDT, Marvel Stadium |
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The past six games between these two sides have seen Victory win twice, City win twice and two draws. City are finally beginning to catch up to their older, more accomplished brother. The last game they both played was a 1-1 draw. Greg Niedermeier saw red in the 15th minute. And in the 16th, Jamie Maclaren converted the ensuring penalty to give his side a slender one-nil advantage. Barbarouses erased that advantage in the 50th minute and that is how the scores stayed. Possession wise, City were very dominant as they had 60% possession. The Victory had just 40% possession throughout the match. The Victory shot 1/1 on target. City were a much. much worse 1/13 on target. However, the scores did end at 1-all, so it didn’t really matter much in the end. City did though have two shots come of the woodwork. City conceded 19 fouls and four yellows. For the Victory it was 15 fouls and for yellows. Typical Derby stuff! City won 65 duels to the Victory’s 60. And City also won 24 aerial duels to their 20. City made 19 tackles and the Victory, 18. The game before this one saw Dario Vidosic head it in from very close range in the 92nd minute to produce a frantic Derby draw. These games never fail to disappoint us.
Maclaren, Maclaren, Maclaren! The current Socceroo has so far proved to be a simply beast signing for City. He bagged two goals in their 5-1 victory over the Strikers. A win which sent them through to the FFA Cup final. In their win over the WSW he got one. As he did before that against the Marconi Stallions as well. He also got another double in their opening victory over Campbelltown City. Man can’t stop scoring goals and evidently loves getting them in the Derby as well. City are on fire offensively as of late and he’d love nothing more then to continue his goal-scoring streak against City’s arch rivals. Himself and Craig Noone are two goal-scorers who Victory will be on the prowl to stop. Those two and in particular, the man affectionately nick-named Macca, will be a real handful to stop for the Victory.
Betting tip: Pick City to win the opening season Derby at $3.05 (UniBet)
Also pick Macca to score anytime at $2.36 (BetEasy)
Sunday, October 13
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Wellington Phoenix v Western United4:00 PM AEDT, Westpac Stadium |
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Wellington finished equal 5th last season and in the process made the finals. They had a good season under former coach Mark Rudan and they put some respect on the Nix badge. Rudan then left to Western United, thus breaking his contract. Gone also to the new Melbourne franchise are names such as Durante, Kurto and Burgess. So snake, snake and snake. And oh, Rudan’s a snake. It damaged the Phoenix brand badly, their departure did. And so in what is only the 3rd game of the new season, there’s already a massive grudge match ahead! Everyone of those four names should be booed and in particular Rudan as he decimated his former side for talent on his way over to WU. The Phoenix have their work cut out for them given how young of a team they are. However, they are also a new side and a side that’s eager to prove to the A-League that they won’t finish last this campaign. Despite the conceivable talent depth between the two sides, expect it to be a thriller on Round One of the A-League.
Steven Taylor. The former EPL and Newcastle man was very impressive defensively last season for the Phoenix in what was his first season in the A-League. He won 55% of all his duels and 100% of all his take ons. He also won 56% of all his tackles and 57% of all his aerial duels. So 55% or above for all of them, pretty damn good! He averaged 90 minutes a game last campaign and he also bagged a cheeky two goals and had four shot assists next to his name. He tackles hard and is a great leader. WU are largely expected to bang in the goals vs the Nix. How Taylor organises the defence will play a massive part in ensuring as to whether or not they can actually do that. Taylor may actually garner Wellington a positive result from this game.
Betting tip: Pick WU to win their first ever official game at $2.50 (BetFair, SportsBet)
Also pick both teams to find the back of the net at $1.61 (Bet365)
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Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar6:00 PM AEDT, HBF Park |
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4-0 Was the score the last time these two teams played each other. Before that it was 4-2. Then before that 2-1. All times it was in the Glory’s favor. Keogh banged in two and both Davidson and Castro got on the score-sheet in that four nothing win. Perth dominated possession holding 61% of the ball. In the process poor old Brisbane was kept to just 39%. Perth peppered 27 shots at Brisbane’s goals and they saw 10 go on target. For comparison, the Roar shot just a paltry two of eight on target. In addition, Perth also had five blocked shots. Passing wise both teams were pretty solid with Perth at an 84% completion rate, 557/660. Brisbane were at 76%, 318/416. The 4-2 win was pretty crazy as six goals were scored. Taggart scored a double for the losers. Whilst an OG, a Kilkenny double and a strike to Keogh were the Glory’s goals. Taggart also missed a penalty in the 91st minute of the game. And Bowles saw red for the Roar in the 57th minute of the game. Given how the two sides performed last season, there’s every chance that Perth could score four again and embarrass a new look Robbie Fowler led Roar side.
Robbie Fowler or Bruno Fornarolli? On one hand you have a former Liverpool legend leading from the sidelines for Brisbane and someone who masterminded their shock 2-0 FFA Cup win over Sydney. The other was a player who was exiled by City despite being their best ever player, a man who has won an FFA Cup final himself and is looking to bring his bounty of goals out to WA with him. Fowler’s knowledge of the game will do Brisbane a great service here giving the monster they are coming up against. Fornarolli on the other-hand is looking to get of to both a winning and goal-scoring start with his new side. They are two people who you should take particular note of during this game.
Betting tip: Pick the Glory to win at $1.70 (UniBet)
Also pick Fornaroli to score anytime at $1.75 (BetEasy)
Best Bet of the Round
Pick the Glory to win at $1.70 (UniBet)
Also pick Fornaroli to score anytime at $1.75 (BetEasy)