The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 1 of the 2024/25 A-Leagues Mens season.
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Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne VictoryFriday October 18, 7:35pm |
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What better way to open the 2024/25 A-leagues Mens season then a rematch between last seasons two Grand Finalists, the back-to-back champions Central Coast Mariners and the new look Melbourne Victory under the guidance of Patrick Kisnorbo. Both teams have incredibly high expectations headed into this season and will be aiming to add more silverware into their respective trophy cabinets. However as the Victory know all to well having gone down 3-1 in last seasons Grand Final at Industree Group Stadium, it’s an excruciatingly tough venue to play at. The Mariners have won 12 of their last 16 affairs there and undoubtedly it will be another cracker to get the campaign underway with.
Did you know – The Mariners are unbeaten in six of their last seven appearances against the Victory. To the naked eye it’s not a massive achievement, yet when you throw it back to 2018 Melbourne beat the Central Coast 5-2 and 4-1 over the course of back-to-back games. However Melbourne have also won three of their last four away games and will be incredibly well prepared to counter whatever Mark Jackson’s troops throw at them this game.
Who else but Ryan Edmonson to either win or lose the game for the Mariners here! He scored two absolutely incredible and crucial goals in last seasons Grand Final and the coldest moment of them all to emerge from the Decider was him celebrating in front of the packed out bays of Victory’s away supporters. He scored in the 91st minute to send the game into ET, then again in the 121st minute to seal the result. His four goals for the Mariners in just 15 matches last season was reasonably impressive given he joined up with the Gosford-based franchise mid-season. And it was his equal best tally from his last seven seasons as a pro Footballer. With a full off-season under his belt with the team and some ACL matches as well he’s primed to be more ready than ever. Rival Forward Bruno Fornaroli loves a goal himself and had 18 from 25 matches last season so Edmonson will need to replicate similar heroics to give the home side something to cheer about right here.
Betting tips: Look for a Melbourne ‘victory’ at $3.30 (Betr)
Also back Bruno Fornaroli to score anytime at $2.88 (Unibet)
And look for both teams to score in the second half at $3.45 (Unibet)
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Auckland FC vs Brisbane RoarSaturday October 19, 3:00pm |
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Auckland FC and the Brisbane Roar go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon in what is the hosts inaugural A-Leagues game. In what is bound to be a near capacity Mount Smart Stadium Steve Corica and his troops will be gunning for a victory straight away given the talent they’ve assembled from the get go. Some of which includes the likes of A-Leagues Mens Goalkeeper of the Year from last season Alex Paulsen, 74X capped ex-Japanese international Defender Hiroki Sakai and Felipe Gallegos. An esteemed former Bundesliga Midfielder who has also won the Chilean top division twice. They face a reputable challenge in the form of the Roar who are unbeaten in four of their last six games and who they themselves weren’t too far off the mark of Finals Football last season. Welcome to the competition Auckland, it’s a pleasure to have you. And we can’t wait to see their battle against the historical A-Leagues heavyweights from Queensland.
Did you know – Over the course of their last seven games Brisbane have scored 1, 2, 2, 0, 5, 2 and 3 goals respectively. Barring the zero which is seemingly an outlier the Roar have worked hard under Ruben Zadkovich to create more attacking opportunities and score more goals. How that fares against Alex Paulsen however will be extremely interesting given that last season he has kept clean sheets in four of his last seven A-Leagues games, as well as in his latest international appearance for Malaysia against New Zealand.
Thomas Waddingham is the highly touted 19 year old Forward that will be critical in front of goals for Brisbane this season. For the Roar’s U21s side he scored five in four during the 2022 season and then one year later he made it an even more impressive seven from seven + three assists. And then last season in the big league he stood up when it mattered the most registering seven goals from 23 games and one assist. Not too mention he also has four goals scored from just six Australia Cup games played. As he displayed last season he rarely fails to take advantage of the chances that are presented to him. And that will be incredibly necessary given some of the South American flair he’ll find himself pitted up against in this encounter. He’ll be vastly out experienced however Alex Paulsen is only 22 years of age so both star Boys are still growing and developing within the game. If Waddingham can’t feed off of what Jay O’Shea gives him then ‘The Black Knights’ could run up a big score in their first ever competition game.
Betting tips: Back ‘The Black Knights’ to ride high with a victory at $2.60 (Unibet)
Also pick there to be 1+ goal in each half at $1.62 (Unibet)
And pick both teams to score at $1.60 (Unibet, Dabble, BoomBet, Betr)
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Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney FCSaturday October 19, 7:35pm |
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A Sydney Derby in Round 1 is unheard off but we’re salivating over it as the A-Leagues Mens is back with a bang between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night. Never mind some of the recent results between the two fierce rivals which have included a 90+8-minute winner to Jaiden Kucharski courtesy of a scintillating lob, a 4-1 demolition job to Sydney FC and a 4-0 victory to the Wanderers last year. A result which saw them keep the East side of Sydney to zilch despite their 23 total shots. But the real test will be between Juan Mata, a FIFA World Cup winner, as well as a Champions & Europa League winner up against Douglas Costa. Costa a Man who just like Mata needs no introduction and has won the Bundesliga 3X, as well as Serie A. There is too much to keep track of in this Derby as both teams will leave absolutely everything they have out on the field in order to claim early bragging rights.
Did you know – The last time the Wanderers posted back-to-back victories at home was on the 1st of January this year and the 15th of December last year. Since that period they have won just one of eight home matches. They have also lost the last three straight Derbies against Sydney in which they’ve been the hosts. Seemingly the Wanderers will have to erase some dubious history if they want to take something from this game.
“I hate everyone at Western Sydney” was the infamous quote originally penned by then Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque around the time the first every Sydney Derby occurred. It was and it still is today reflective of the hate and the raw passion that lies between Moore Park and Parramatta and everywhere that is connected to those two areas as well. And for us Football supporters, Saturday night will be just another indicative reflection of exactly that. It was only last year when then Wanderers head coach Marko Rudan talked about the difference between the two areas and how much winning these games means to Western Sydney fans. For there is no better game in Australia than the Sydney Derby.
Betting tips: Pick Sydney FC to triumph at $2.33 (Betfair)
Also pick them Patryk Klimala to score anytime at $2.50 (Unibet)
And back there to be 1+ goals in each half at $1.42 (Unibet)