The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 26 of the 2024/25 A-Leagues Mens season.
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Sydney FC vs Auckland FCSaturday April 12, 5:00pm Allianz Stadium |
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For the first time since November of 2023 when Steve Corica lost the opening three games of the new season and was sacked Sydney FC, he will return to Allianz Stadium to face off against the club he enjoyed so many riches with in charge of table-topping Auckland FC. As manager of the ‘Sky Blues’ he won 1X Premierships, 2X Championships and 1X Australia Cup. Whilst as a player he won 4X combined trophies, as well as a number of individual honours. It ended so negatively for the Man affectionately nicknamed ‘Bimbi’ at the club he represented over 100 times as a player. However given all he has achieved you would think he will be welcomed warmly in the ‘Harbour City’ as the ‘Black Knights’ fight to secure the Premiership and his old employers a spot within the Top Six.
In the 94th minute of his sides away game against Adelaide last round Adrian Segecic fired a shot away from just inside the box that was palmed away by Max Vartuli, however the 20-year-old calmly collected the rebound and fired away once again into the top corner of the net to deliver Sydney an unthinkable 3-2 win. That has put the lethal Midfielder on 10 goals + 2 assists this season, in addition to another combined six goals/assists in the AFC Champions League 2, as the youth Australian international is fighting for glory on two fronts. He was unlucky not to have two goals as his other attempt blazed just wide of the post, as he’s displayed all season long what he is capable of doing. Ex-Sydney gaffer Corica was renowned for not playing his youth talents enough, of which Segecic was a part. Will he come back to haunt his former manager or will the ‘Black Knights’ notoriously stingy defence remain intact?
Sydney’s last three results; W 3-2 vs Adelaide @Coopers Stadium, L 1-3 vs Melbourne City @Allianz Stadium and D 1-1 vs Wellington @Allianz Stadium.
Auckland’s last three results; D 1-1 vs Western Sydney @Go Media Stadium, W 2-0 vs Brisbane @Suncorp Stadium and D 2-2 vs Central Coast @Go Media Stadium.
Betting tips: Pick Sydney to come out on top at $2.23 (BetFair)
Also look for the hosts to score first at $1.66 (Bet365)
And back there to be over 3.5 goals in total at $2.50 (Bet365)
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Perth Glory vs Adelaide UnitedSaturday April 12, 9:45pm HBF Park |
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What’s normally such an enthralling Derby between Perth and Adelaide doesn’t have it’s normal sort of hype this time around and that’s because both sides have fallen significantly below expectations this season. The Glory are last having scored just 16 goals through 23 games, whilst having conceded 54. As for the ‘Reds’ rumours emerged recently that embattled head coach Carl Veart may be given his marching orders at the end of the campaign as his side sit in 7th on the ladder, outside of a finals spot on GD. Perth last round went down to Western United 3-1 at Ironbark Fields, as they could only muster up two shots on target throughout the match. That whilst Adelaide suffered heartbreak at Coopers Stadium, as a 90+4th minute stunner from Adrian Segecic meant that Sydney FC beat them 3-2 and leapfrogged them into the Top Six. The Glory are fighting to avoid the Wooden Spoon, whilst Adelaide are playing for the ‘final’ life. Nothing will be left in the sheds in this massive matchup.
The Glory have scored just one goal a piece over the course of their last four consecutive appearances and have lost them all. Meanwhile the ‘Reds’ have claimed just two points over the course of their last five matches, despite scoring a bustling 14 strikes in the process. For these two sides, in particular the visitors, it really doesn’t matter how good your attack is if your defence can be torn to shreds like a piece of paper. Perth were on track for a vital point against Western before their defence collapsed after they had forged a valuable 55th minute equaliser after Jaylan Pearman’s long range stunner. Whilst Adelaide shot 7/16 shots on target and had seven corners to Sydney’s three, yet still went down. Which side can fix their defensive woes enough during the week to be able to top their arch-rivals?
Perth’s last three results; L 1-3 vs Western United @Ironbark Fields, L 1-3 vs Central Coast @Industree Group Stadium and L 1-3 vs Brisbane @HBF Park.
Adelaide’s last three results; L 2-3 vs Sydney @Coopers Stadium, L 3-5 vs Melbourne Victory @AAMI Park and L 4-5 vs Macarthur @Coopers Stadium.
Betting tips: Choose a ‘Reds’ victory to be the end result at $1.67 (Dabble)
Also choose Archie Goodwin to fire into the back of the net anytime at $2.00 (Bet365)
And back both teams to score at $1.36 (BoomBet)