Week 15 of the A-League will be played between Monday and Wednesday this week and we are set for five quality matches of domestic football.
Brisbane Roar vs Sydney FC
The biggest mismatch in Round 15 will also begin the week’s proceedings, when the Brisbane Roar host Sydney FC on Monday night.
Brisbane have been close to terrible all season and that was compounded when they failed to take anything from their game with the Wanderers on Friday night, slumping to another 2-0 loss. What was perhaps most disappointing about the Roar’s performance was that Western Sydney’s first goal was scored against the run of the play and they simply failed to respond.
Sydney FC on the other hand are clearly the league’s benchmark and they are on track for an easy premiership this season. While they were held to a 2-2 draw by the second-placed Newcastle Jets last week, the Sky Blues deserve to start this resounding favourites and will easily justify that tag in Brisbane.
Tip: Back over 3 goals to be scored @ $2.12
Newcastle Jets vs Central Coast Mariners
Regardless of form and overall positioning, the F3 Derby is always an exciting match and we are set for another edition on Tuesday evening.
The Jets have been terrific all season and they stamped themselves as genuine contenders last weekend (if they hadn’t already) with a hard-fought 2-2 draw with league-leaders Sydney, in Sydney. Newcastle are more than a win clear of the third-placed Melbourne City and are faced with a great run of games throughout the coming weeks.
It’s been a pretty tough slog for the Mariners this season: they flew the gates, but have continued to struggle recently. With a little more luck, they might have returned to winning form against the Phoenix or Victory during their two most-recent matches, but have been held to draws on both occasions.
It’s close to impossible to tip against the Jets in current form and there is still some meat on the bone of their odds-on favouritism.
Tip: Back the Jets to win @ $1.70
Perth Glory vs Melbourne City
Action returns to the nation’s west on Tuesday night when the Glory host Melbourne City, in what could figure as a vital match for both sides.
For the Glory, every positive result from here on in is vital as they now sit seventh overall and within one loss of dropping to ninth, with other results also going against them. They were pretty disappointing in last weekend’s match against Adelaide United and were completely dominated for 90 minutes; eventually finishing on the wrong end of a 3-0 score line.
Melbourne City’s losing run of form came to an end last weekend when they managed to sneak past the lowly Wellington Phoenix 2-1 at home. City completely lost their way in December and will need to build off this result if they are to remain in touch with the top two.
It’s tough to back Perth off the back of last weekend’s performance, but it’s also hard to trust Melbourne City given their recent run of form. The draw looms as a likely outcome and a potentially lucrative betting play here.
Tip: Back the draw @ $3.50
Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory
Wellington Phoenix face another big task in taking something from Wednesday afternoon’s game with the Melbourne Victory.
The Phoenix have remained firmly anchored to the bottom of the table all season and their fortunes have not looked like changing of late; dropping all the points in three of their last four including a 2-1 loss to an unconvincing Melbourne City last weekend.
The Victory were also far from their best in a 1-1 draw with the Central Coast last weekend, but they’ve produced several top quality performances this season and remain a live chance of a deep run in the finals.
The Victory are over the odds at their current quote and are subsequently out Best Bet in Week 15 of the A-League.
Tip: Back the Victory to win @ $1.90 – BEST BET
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United
Round 15 of the A-League will draw to a close in Sydney on Wednesday night when the Wanderers host Adelaide United.
Both teams were impressive winners in Round 14 and this looms as an exciting fixture from the fans’ perspective, as well as an interesting betting prospect.
The Wanderers ran into a pretty out-of-form Roar outfit in Brisbane and capitalised on several errors successfully to eventually walk away 2-0 winners. They took another big step towards the finals with that win and look like a team that could should any other club on the right day.
Adelaide’s steady run of form continued with a 3-0 hiding of Perth away from home. While the continue to suffer the odd loss here and there, the Reds have worked their way into fourth overall and will look to get something out of this game, ahead of a Round 16 meeting with Sydney FC.
There’s value in both clubs in head-to-head betting, but Adelaide can deliver for punters at a terrific quote.
Tip: Back Adelaide to win @ $2.90