There are only four matches set to be played in Round 19 of the A-League, but precious competition points on offer mean that there is a lot of stake in each.
The match of the round looks as though it will arrive on Saturday afternoon when the Wellington Phoenix host Melbourne City.
Betting suggests that the opening match of the round will be the played out first, and it’s tough imagining any result other than a comfortable Adelaide United win materialising.
They were halted by a fair Brisbane Roar side away from home last week, but that was the first blemish on the record of Adelaide United for some time, and they were offered the perfect opportunity to atone at the expense of the lowly Mariners.
Last week’s match against the Jets looked the perfect opportunity for the Mariners to record a rare win and while they did manage three goals, they ultimately fell short. They would need to improve tenfold to trouble the Reds in Adelaide.
Saturday will see a couple of far more appealing matches played out, beginning with top four hopefuls the Phoenix and Melbourne City going toe-to-toe in Wellington.
The Phoenix were unable to take anything from their trip to Perth last weekend and will be eager to respond at home. Their record remains a good one this season, but a win here will be vital to them maintaining their position in the top four, given that their closest rival Adelaide United look a certainly to win on Friday.
City were too good for the Victory in last weekend’s Melbourne Derby and will be quietly confident of going on with the job here. They remain a solitary point above the Glory in overall standings, further strengthening their claims in this.
I’m happy to sit on the fence.
There’s value around both the Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle Jets ahead of their Saturday night meeting in Parramatta.
Western Sydney’s match with their crosstown rivals last weekend was postponed and they will probably only strengthen their case for this fixture, given the extra recovery time. They also take winning form into the match following their smart Week 17 win over the Mariners.
The Jets recorded a rare win over F3 Derby rivals the Mariners, but there is absolutely no denying that this looms as a far tougher fixture for them. They are yet to record consecutive wins in season 2019/20 and there isn’t much of a case to be made for them breaking that trend here.
Probably the most intriguing match of the round looks like playing out in Ballarat on Sunday afternoon, when Western United look to return to record another win over the Brisbane Roar.
Western United have been reasonably inconsistent, but that is completely understandable of a club amidst their first professional campaign and it is probably fair to say that they have already exceeded expectations. The enter this off a bye week and prior to that, a goalless draw with the Newcastle Jets.
The Roar have found a competitive run of form since Christmas and with the win over Adelaide last week, actually leapfrogged this week’s opponents into sixth. They’ve won three of their last four matches and look to be the value in match betting of any Round 19 fixture. I’m happy to be with them again.