Just two more rounds of matches before the finals kick-off and plenty is at stake ahead of A-League matchweek 23.
While Melbourne City has the premiers plate sorted, five other teams are vying for the opportunity to claim the famous A-League toilet seat trophy awarded to the champions.
As has been the case throughout the season, there’s a bit of uncertainty around the A-League fixture, and a few midweek catch ups so we’ll update the page with our best tips throughout matchweek 23 – so be sure to stop by throughout.
Matchweek 23 kicks off with a potential finals preview with the darlings of the season the 5th placed Central Coast Mariners playing host to new kids on the block 6th placed Macarthur.
The Bulls have been in excellent form of recent, having not lost a game in their past six matches but will need to get the full three points to leave some breathing space for their finals chances.
Central Coast’s improvement has been a highlight of the season so far, however, they need to get the wins in any remaining fixtures if they want to play finals.
It would be a shame if they missed out, especially with all the moments they have provided.
These two sides have met twice this season, with Central Coast winning both fixtures.
Both teams are at a similar level, and expect this to be high scoring.
All roads point to me backing the draw.
“No one will be able to tell the difference with no spectators allowed in the crowd”
Now that we’ve gotten the boring jokes about Western United out of the way, let’s weigh in on the preview for the actual match.
10th placed Western United hosts cross-town rival 11th placed Melbourne Victory at Victory’s home ground in front of empty stands with another lockdown in play for Victoria.
Neither team has had a win for quite a while, with Western United going six games since taking the full three points and Victory seven and if that was not enough, both sides are on five-game losing streaks.
If anything both Western United and Victory will fancy their chances in this game, it’s just a shame their home fans won’t be able to witness a much-needed win.
A little tidbit going into this game from one of my stats servants is that the ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has failed to hit in each of Western United FC’s last four A-League matches and I really wouldn’t be surprised if one of these teams fails to get one at the back on the net.
The $2.40 price is a good value bet. I’ll take it.
Another preview for what the A-League finals have installed and Saturday night’s clash between Adelaide United and Sydney FC should be a beauty.
Sydney FC always have a bit of spring in their step and will go into this match as $2.20 favorites at the time of publishing, coming off a solid 1-0 win in the Derby and having won their past three games.
Adelaide just got the job done over Melbourne Victory with a 1-0 win last weekend and the Reds have been a bit hit and miss recently with a win-loss-win-loss streak over their past four matches.
The Sky Blues have a habit of keeping their matches low scoring at the moment, five of their last six have seen two or fewer goals, with three of them seeing them keep a clean sheet.
It is the kind of form every coach would want to take into finals football.
The under has hit in each of Sydney FC’s past five A-League games, and I reckon there’s every chance this will be a fifth time.
Worth taking at the $2.20 on offer.
From no crowds in Melbourne to huge crowds across the ditch, the good folk of Auckland get a taste of the A-League action when the Nix host the Glory in the famed distance derby.
Seeing the iconic Eden Park packed for an A-League sight is truly a glorious sight, but I’m not so sure if it will be glorious for the visitors.
Granted, they’ve been an excellent form of late, six games without a loss-making the most of an extended run at home, but there’s something quite special about the Nix being back on their side of the ditch.
This will also be Glory’s first away game since April.
Last week the Nix thumped Western Utd at the Cake Tin 3-0 before backing it up with a 2-1 win over the Wanderers on Wednesday, and I can’t see why they won’t make it three on the trot this Sunday in Auckland.
This feels like Brisbane Roar’s 25th game in 15 days.
I know I’ve got my maths wrong, but it’s a feeling, the point being they’ve played a lot of football of late and are doing everything they can to make the finals.
A big 3-0 win over the premiers Melbourne City on Tuesday night will give them plenty of confidence as they head to Parramatta to take on the Wanderers.
The Wanderers have lost their past three games and have been nothing but a disappointment.
Lose this and any finals hopes are gone, if they are still there by kickoff.
All roads lead to a solid away win for the Brisbane Roar who can consolidate their spot in the top six.
The A-League’s answer to a couch surfer in between finding a home, Western United, now finds themselves hosting Macarthur at Leichhardt Oval of all places, which for all intents and purposes, is Western suburbs, but in the western suburbs of Sydney.
This will be Western United’s 5th home ground for the 2020-21 season.
Western United has gone from not-so-bad to really awful.
They enter this match having suffered a 6-1 loss at the hands of Melbourne Victory of all teams on Friday night, making it six bad losses on the trot spells doom for Mark Rudan and his men.
They’ve got just 72 hours to back it up against Macarthur who can bank the full three points and get themselves back in the final six to play finals.
Macarthur didn’t disgrace themselves in the 2-1 loss to the Mariners on Thursday night and should be in every position possible to kick Western United while they are down.
Take the half time/full time double, there will be plenty of scoring, mostly from the Bulls.
The destination this edition of the F3 Derby is heading is a Central Coast Mariners win.
Central Coast chalked up a solid 2-1 win over Macarthur on Thursday night and can book their spot in the A-League Finals in front of an adoring home crowd in this midweek fixture.
I cannot for the life of me see any upset occurring from the bottom of the table Jets who have lost their last 14 games with the odd draw here and there.
Bank a Central Coast victory and back the over 2.5 in what will be a top night for the Gosford faithful.
This season can’t end soon enough for Newcastle.
Yet another catch-up fixture for the Brisbane Roar.
I’ve lost count how many games they’ve played in recent days but a midweek fixture against Perth Glory in Redcliffe, against a Glory team also playing catch up with their fixture list, means all signs point to a draw.
The Glory had a 2-2 draw against the Nix at Eden Park and Roar were soundly beaten by the Wanderers 2-0 on Sudnay.
I could give you all the stats in the world, but a game like this has “lethargic midweek catchup draw” written all over it and I’ll take the $3.60 on offer.