Week 13 of the A-League launches in Melbourne on Friday night and City will be confident of continuing their winning run of form past the down-and-out Brisbane Roar.
The Victory suffered a shock loss to Adelaide United midweek but will be offered the opportunity to atone when they host Newcastle on Saturday.
The round draws to a close to the nation’s west on Sunday evening when the league-leading Glory host the Wanderers, who are staring down the barrel of four-consecutive defeats.
City
Last 5 Matches: LWDWW
Ladder Position: 4th
Goal Difference: +5 (GF 15, GA 10)
Roar
Last 5 Matches: LLLDL
Ladder Position: 9th
Goal Difference: -10 (GF 15, GA 25)
A bit of a mismatch will see City host the Roar in Round 13’s opener in Melbourne on Friday night. City have really started to click into gear recently and they’ll be confident of making it three in a row past a Roar side that have lost four of their last five matches.
Phoenix
Last 5 Matches: WWDDW
Ladder Position: 6th
Goal Difference: +2 (GF 17, GA 15)
Mariners
Last 5 Matches: LLLLL
Ladder Position: 10th
Goal Difference: -19 (GF 10, GA 29)
The Wellington Phoenix are arguably the formed team of the league currently and they’re offered a soft kill in the form of the last-placed Mariners on Saturday. If they carry their condition into this match, this should be a formality for the home side.
Victory
Last 5 Matches: WDDWL
Ladder Position: 2nd
Goal Difference: +10 (GF 24, GA 14)
Jets
Last 5 Matches: LWLDL
Ladder Position: 7th
Goal Difference: -4 (GF 13, GA 17)
The Victory were delivered a surprise 2-0 defeat away to Adelaide last week, but they’ll be confident of atoning for that performance and result when they host last year’s Grand Final opponents, the inconsistent Newcastle Jets. This will be a big test for Ernie Merrick’s men.
Sydney
Last 5 Matches: WWWWL
Ladder Position: 3rd
Goal Difference: +8 (GF 24, GA 16)
Adelaide
Last 5 Matches: LDWDW
Ladder Position: 5th
Goal Difference: +3 (GF16, GA 13)
This looms as the best contest in Week 13 of the A-League but Sydney FC are set to start odds-on favourites at home. Adelaide have enjoyed a competitive patch of form over Christmas and will be full of confidence heading into this one after recording arguably their best win of the season, over the second-placed Victory. I think that they can steal a point and I’m happy to back the draw.
Glory
Last 5 Matches: WLWWW
Ladder Position: 1st
Goal Difference: +14 (GF 27, GA 13)
Wanderers
Last 5 Matches: LDLLL
Ladder Position: 8th
Goal Difference: -9 (GF 14, GA 23)
The league leaders asserted their dominance again when they sent the third-placed Sydney FC home on the wrong-end of a 3-1 score line midweek. On everything that they have so-far achieved this season, they should be beating the Wanderers with relative ease on Sunday.