The A-League heads into match week 10 with league bolter the Central Coast Mariners still poised at the top of the table.
We’ve run our eyes over the games of the week and listed what you ought to be on come kick-off!
perth glory v brisbane roar
february 26th 9:05pm
Fresh off a three-week respite, Perth Glory return home to face the Brisbane Roar at HBF Park on Friday night.
The Glory may sit in eighth place on the table but do have four games in hand on most of its rivals in the league and are seeking a third straight victory which would see them launch towards a finals spot.
Brisbane, meanwhile, has struggled to replicate the early form it showed this season having come up winless in its last three fixtures but do still sit second on the table.
Roar manager Warren Moon will again look to his two main men up front Dylan Wenzel-Halls and Scott McDonald to provide an attacking threat.
Bruno Fornaroli will be the offensive linchpin the Glory look towards after his 73d minute equalizer against Adelaide early this month was the catalyst for a comeback 2-1 victory.
Incredibly, having only played five games for the season, the Glory rank second for goals scored with 15 strikes finding the back of the net.
Defensively, the Roar will be a tough back four to break down as it boasts the equal best defensive record in the league having conceded only eight goals from its eight games.
Settling with the draw in this one.
Suggested Bet: Draw at $3.3
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Bruno Fornaroli to score anytime
Leg 2: Both teams to score
Combined odds = $2.40
Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United
february 27th 5:05pm
The Western Sydney Wanderers will look to continue its seven game unbeaten run when it faces Adelaide United at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday evening.
Since suffering a 1-0 defeat to newly formed A-League franchise Macarthur FC, the red and black army has managed three wins and four draws.
Carl Robinson’s men would have been kicking themselves after a missed opportunity against league cellar dweller Wellington Phoenix saw them settle for a two-all draw.
For Adelaide United, it brings strong momentum into this game following a controversial and highly entertaining 3-2 victory over league leader Central Coast Mariners.
Tomi Juric scored a hattrick off the back of three penalties in the come from behind win and with that takes his overall goal tally this year to four.
The Red are likely to sit back in this one and play on the counter with the Wanderers passing game and ability to control possession being a feature to its success so far this year.
A strong midfield led by Kearyn Baccus and a defensive block that has only conceded eight goals this season should be enough for the Wanderers to hold off an Adelaide team who look much improved on its 2019/20 A-League performance.
Prediction: Western Sydney Wanderers 2 Adelaide United 1
Suggested Bet: Western Sydney Wanderers head to head at $1.85
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western Sydney Wanderers head to head
Leg 2: Both teams to score
Combined odds = $3.25
Melbourne Victory v Western United
february 27th 7:10pm
Melbourne Victory and Western United resume hostilities in the battle of the bridge from AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Both teams got only their second wins of the year in match week nine with Melbourne Victory accounting for Wellington Phoenix courtesy of two headers either side of half-time from marquee striker Rudy Gestede, while Western United belted a hapless Macarthur FC 4-1 at Mars Stadium.
Former Victory and championship winning striker Besart Berisha netted his first brace of the season and his timing could not be any better with a match against his old team adding some extra spice.
Victory coach Grant Brebnar relieved the pressure on his job ever so slightly but will face an uphill battle against Mark Rudan’s black and green men.
Having played each other on four occasions, United have a stranglehold in this derby with three wins and most recently a scoreless draw early this month.
Brebnar’s men have looked very shaky at the back and given Berisha’s form as well as Alessandro Diamanti toying with his opponents, the value here surely lies with United.
The scoreless draw played out earlier this month should have been a Western United win if not for the crossbar that denied Diamanti scoring two absolute worldies.
United will get its luck this time around.
Suggested Bet: Western United head to head at $2.45
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western United head to head
Leg 2: Alessandro Diamanti to score anytime
Leg 3: Both teams to score
Combined Scores = $6.5
