The following are previews with betting tips for Matchweek 17 of the 2020/21 A-League season.
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Friday, April 16
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Western Sydney v Brisbane Roar7:05 PM AEST, Bankwest Stadium |
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The rivalry between that of Western Sydney and Brisbane should not be underestimated, they are two passionate, fight-filled clubs. In 2016 it kicked off in truly emphatic fashion as the Wanderers claimed a crazy 5-4 finals win at Parramatta Stadium. Who could forget Maclaren’s double for Brisbane? Or Castlalen’s X3 goals for Western Sydney? Or when Vidosic scored the clutch 102nd minute winner for the home side? Truly chaotic times. Since then affairs have occurred such as Brisbane winning 1(6)-1(5) on penalties at home. A clash which saw Kusukami fail to mitigate the previously converted Oar attempt. On another occasion after that the Red & Black left QLD with a commanding 4-1 thrashing after Riera scored X2 in the 35th and 38th minutes. And most recently it was a 1-1 draw in Redcliffe as Danzaki produced a brilliant goal after an awesome solo run by Champness. What chapter will be added to this exciting history come Friday night?
From the Wanderers latest 1-1 away draw with Adelaide, it’s almost impossible to ignore the crazy impact that Ziegler had. The Defender and former Bundesliga man had a profound defensive performance. He won 11 duels, 7 aerial duels and successfully completed 3/3 tackles. He also gave away just the single foul whilst his passing was also done at an extremely high level. He made 204 passes overall, good for a 91% accuracy rate. Against the Roar there’s the potential for him to come up with another huge game.
Betting tips: Pick the Wanderers to win at $2.35 (Unibet)
Also pick them to score first at $1.72 (Bet365)
And pick both teams to score at $1.57 (Bet365)
Saturday, April 17
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Western United v Central Coast5:05 PM AEST, University of Tasmania Stadium |
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In what has become an incredibly heated match-up W.U. went down 3-2 to Wellington away from home as the winner came from Waine in the 90th minute to break all of the Green & Blacks hearts. Their two goals had been produced courtesy of a Berisha spot-kick in the 32nd minute after a Payne foul and in the 56th minute via Guarrotxena. With 55% possession of the ball and having shot 4/12 on target, with a shot coming off the woodwork, they played a decent game and were unlucky not to have claimed a point if not more in the end. Whilst they also completed a strong 84% of their passes, something that was good for 481/573. However, this result has left them grasping for air a bit in 8th spot. They stay on 20 points are are five off the 6th placed Wanderers. Albeit they have three games in hand over them (14 vs 17).
For the Mariners their latest clash was an exciting 2-2 draw with the Wanderers at Bankwest Stadium. Kamau torched them for a quick double (74th and 78th minutes), however they came up with their own silent killers through Simon in the 22nd minute and Bozanic with the late, yet well-deserved equalizer in the 83rd minute. And their 8/17 shots converted was very decent, as was their 81% passing completion rate. Something that was good for 417/514. The point still leaves them at the top of the table on 30. However with recent reports suggesting that Manchester United could buy the club and relocate them to Northern Sydney aren’t so rosy for the sides supporters. There’s certainly a lot of things left to be desired about this and no doubt it’ll piss a fair amount of people off.
Betting tips: Pick both teams to get on the score-sheet at $1.57 (Unibet)
Also pick there to be a goal in each half at $1.55 (Unibet)
And pick the 2nd half to be the highest scoring one at $1.95 (Bet365)
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Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory7:10 PM AEST, AAMI Park |
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6-0 Was the emphatic score when these two teams last locked horns at Marvel Stadium. And with one of City’s ticket promotion in the lead-up to this event having been they’ll give you six reasons to come/buy tickets the Victory will no doubt have some added motivation for Saturday’s clash. And regardless of that, they should already, as it was a massacre last time! City’s six goals came courtesy of Maclaren (34th min), Berenguer (52nd min), Griffiths (56th min), Metcalfe X2 (74th and 77th mins) and Colakovski (93rd min). They also shot an absolutely emphatic 11/22 on target, with a shot of theirs also hitting the woodwork. That while they also kept the Victory to 0/7 on target. Outside of that they also won the Derby prior to that as well as they prevailed 2-1 at AAMI Park. Their goals that day were through Berenguer (8th min) and Maclaren (71st min). Toivonen then struck just seven minutes after ‘Macca’ to make a game of it. Will City run rampant again here? Or will the Victory decide to give it back to their biggest rivals?
Former Gold Coast United and current MV Defender Adama Traore pulled out a 5-star performance against the Jets. He won 8/13 duels, 5/7 aerial duels, completed 3/3 tackles and he completed 39 passes in total. That being something that was good for an 85% completion rate. Now coming up against City he’ll be needed more then ever to thwart their attacks. Whether he’s up to the task remains to be seen, but one things for sure, in this clash his hands are going to be as full as they could possibly be.
Betting tips: Pick City to win at $1.34 (Unibet)
Also pick them to score first at $1.25 (Bet365)
And pick Maclaren to score anytime at $1.44 (Bet365)
Sunday, April 18
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Sydney FC v Adelaide United4:05 PM AEST, Leichardt Oval |
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Sydney have won 9 of their previous 14 contested clashes against the Reds. However interestingly enough, 2 of the last 2 have been a 1-0 Adelaide win at Hindmarsh Stadium. And also a 1-all draw between the two sides in Homebush. However, when you delve even further into the files you’ll see that these two teams love to entertain. I mean in 2014 it’s pretty hard to forget when at the SFS Brosque got one on the board for Sydney. But then shortly before ET came a Petkovic red. After that it was all Ditje as he scored in both the 99th and 111th minutes to turn the game completely on it’s head and give the Reds the most unsuspecting of victories. Then in 2016 a dominant ‘Brosquey’ performance in Adelaide saw Sydney come away with the easiest of 4-0 wins. McGowan many clashes later would then become the villain where he was born as he scored a damaging 87th minute winner. There’s just no telling what can happen when these teams go at it and the absolute same applies to the encounter about to be contested at Leichardt Oval.
Barbarouses has seemingly hit his stride once again as he’s now up to six strikes on the season, having scored recently in some crucial games, including against City at home last Sunday. He also has 24 shot assists/2 goal assists to his name. Not too mention he’s won 45 duels, 8 tackles and 11 take ons on the campaign. The man is simply unstoppable at the moment and every Sydney fan will be keenly watching to see how the former Victory player can once again torch the opposition at Leichardt Oval.
Betting tips: Pick the 2nd half to be the highest scoring one at $2.00 (Bet365)
Also pick there to be a goal in each half at $1.53 (Unibet)
And pick Barbarouses to score at anytime at $2.25 (Bet365)
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Macarthur FC v Newcastle Jets6:10 PM AEST, Campbelltown Stadium |
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The Bulls despite being in 5th place currently are on 26 points. And given the top-mark is 30 at the moment, you don’t need me to say what kind of a huge boost a victory would give them here. For the Jets on 11 points, the finals might be a bit of a stretch for them at the moment but they have their days where they can beat anybody and they even toppled City earlier on in the campaign. So with one side looking to play Finals Football and the other team looking to wreak havoc upon those aiming to do so we are bound to have one hell of a clash out West here. Will it be Macarthur who edge their way one step closer to the top? Or will Newcastle try to put some respect back onto their now tarnished jersey?
The Bulls latest clash saw them go down 2-1 at home to the Roar. While for the Jets they also went down 2-1 at home to the Victory. The Bulls sole-goal came via L. Rose in the 90th minute, as they owned 57% of the ball and shot 4/17 on target. For the Jets their only goal was via Stamatelopoulos in the 18th minute of the clash. This as they had 55% possession of the ball and went 4/11 on target. Macarthur also completed 84% of their passes, which was good for 510/609. And Newcastle did theirs at a 76% completion rate, good for 340/448.
Betting tips: Pick the Bulls to win at $1.97 (Unibet)
Also pick them to score last at $1.57 (Bet365)
And pick both teams to score at $1.61 (Bet365)
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Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix8:15 PM AEST, HBF Park |
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2020 Was the year and February 7 was the exact date. That day at NIB Stadium saw the Glory prevail 4 goals to 2 in what was both an incredibly exciting and an incredibly entertaining encounter to witness. For the away side Hooper scored X2 in the 68th and 76th minutes. While for the home side D’Agostino did the same thing in the 46th and 54th minutes. There was also a combined 34 shots taken throughout the clash, as well as 10 on-target ones. Another clash similar to this would be truly, truly, exceptional.
Perth’s latest game was a disappointing 2-0 defeat to the Bulls at Campbelltown Stadium. As for the Phoenix, they claimed an exciting 3-2 victory over W.U. And during the 1st half Berisha appeared to ask somewhat mockingly to Sutton who are you? He answered setting up teammate Waine’s winning goal in the 90th minute. There was a bit of get that up ya from the Nix which you love to see. Perth are currently eight points off a finals spot, although they are three games behind the 6th placed Wanderers. While the Nix have a single game in hand over the Red & Black and are seven points behind the mark.
Betting tips: Pick Wellington to win at $3.30 (Bet365)
Also pick them to score first at $2.20 (Bet365)
And pick each team to score at $1.55 (Unibet)
Best Bets of the Round
Pick Berisha to score anytime vs the Mariners at $1.90 (Bet365)
Also pick Derbyshire to score anytime vs the Jets at $1.90 (Bet365)
And pick the 2nd half of PER vs WEL to be the highest scoring one at $1.95 (Bet365)