The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 16 of the 2024/25 A-Leagues Mens season.
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Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FCFriday January 24, 7:35pm |
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The Victory head into their traditional Australia Day weekend clash against the ‘Sky Blues’ in dire straights having won zero of their last six matchups. Whilst for the visitors they too need to do a lot of work in order to rectify their season after they were upended 4-3 by the Roar last round at Allianz Stadium. As Brisbane powered their way to a debut win of the campaign. Melbourne’s obvious problem is the lack of a clinical goal scorer as veteran Bruno Fornaroli has struggled this season with just two goals from 10 games played. Meanwhile Nikos Vergos has the same amount from an extra three games. Outside of the 37-year-old and 29-year-old only Midfielder Ryan Teague has topped their amount with three goals this campaign. But he’s just 22-years-old and only has seven goals in total from his 68-game career thus far. Whilst Sydney’s major hurdle is their defence. Prior to facing off against Sydney, Brisbane had scored just nine goals all season from only 12 games played. It took them one clash against Sydney to reach almost half of that amount. Whilst prior to that the ‘Sky Blues’ let in two goals against a Jets side that has scored just one goal a piece in their remaining three games since then. It’s an issue that has plagued Ufuk Talay’s Men all season long and something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Can the hosts find the goals needed to peg the ‘Sky Blues’ back, or will Sydney be able to put their defensive issues to bed?
Around three weeks ago these two teams went to battle at Allianz Stadium and it didn’t disappoint. There was a straight red dished out to Melbourne Defender Zinedine Machach after a lengthy VAR review in the 15th minute. Whilst prior to that Joe Lolley had opened the scoring just two-minutes in after he shot a scorcher past Jack Duncan and into the back of the net. Lolley also had a goal disallowed on the stroke of halftime. And Jaiden Kurcharski shot home a fantastic long range effort in the 86th minute after coming on as a substitute. The ‘Sky Blues’ ultimately prevailed 3-0. Although this affair will be a lot more competitive, still expect to see the same sort of drama and stories unfold in this undoubtedly packed out Australia Day Derby. The passion is always there and the hate is also always there between these two teams. Whether you’re more of a fan of Terry Antonis’s infamous own goal, then goal in the semi final of years past or Kevin Muscat’s clunky Grand Final penalty miss, this spicy rivalry has something for everybody!
Betting tips: Choose a Sydney FC win at $3.04 (Betfair)
Also choose them to score first at $2.20 (bet365)
Also choose Sydney to get the most corners at $2.05 (Unibet)
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Macarthur FC vs Melbourne CitySaturday January 25, 7:35pm |
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It’s the ‘Bulls’ up against City in what is an exciting battle for A-League supremacy. At the time of writing Macarthur are 6th on the ladder and just one win off 3rd. Whilst City are 3rd on the ladder and just one win off 1st. And if past matchups are anything to go off then we are in for an absolute treat! Last time out at Campbelltown Stadium it was Macarthur who got up 2-0 thanks to a magical eleven-minute period from current Winger Bernado Oliveira. In the 47th minute he collected the rebound and fired home from close-range to open the scoring. Then in the 57th minute the flairy Brazilian smashed home a long-range effort from the edge of the box and in off the post. Prior to that the two rivals contested a simply superb 3-3 draw at AAMI Park. The ‘Bulls’ sourced a 2-1 advantage in the 83rd minute and then a 3-1 advantage in the 88th minute. However the late flurry of goals didn’t end there as former City Striker Jamie Maclaren smartly placed home a rebound ball in the 90th minute. And then in the 90 + 3rd minute Terry Antonis really gave the home supporters something to cheer about as his low driving effort beat Filip Kurto and into the left-hand side of the net, delivering the hosts a truly memorable point. When these two teams face off you learn to expect the unexpected. What further magic will be created on Saturday night?
Last round at home it was the ‘Bulls’ who were ‘tamed’ pretty heavily by the Phoenix as they went down 2-1, as Kosta Barbarouses scored a very special 100th A-League strike in Campbelltown. Macarthur went down despite leading by one goal and also after they shot 9/30 on target! That in comparison to Wellington’s 4/9. The hosts just unable to capitalise on the abundance of chances afforded to them by the ‘Nix’s’ leaky defence. Whilst for City in their top-of-the-table clash at Go Media Stadium they were handed a reality check by the ‘Black Knights’, being thrashed 3-0 in front of over 14,000 spectators. Macarthur aren’t normally so wasteful with their chances and prior to that loss had scored X3 goals in three of their last four affairs. And the last time Melbourne conceded three in a game before that was in October of last year as they lost the Melbourne Derby 3-1. Both teams will want to shoot straight back up the ladder so undoubtedly they’ll have plenty of motivation right here!
Betting tips: Back Valere Germain or Marin Jakolis to score anytime at $2.80 and $3.80 (Unibet)
Also back Macarthur to win the first half at $3.05 (Unibet)
And back both H1 and H2 to witness goals at $1.61 (bet365)