Matchweek 12 is here and all 12 A-League teams do battle in fixtures from Friday all the way through to Monday.
The Central Coast Mariners continue to lead the league while Melbourne Victory continue to struggle at the bottom of the table.
We’ve syphoned through every game this weekend and passed off our suggested bets for a big weekend of A-League.
Melbourne City vs. Macarthur FC
March 12th 7:05pm
After destroying Melbourne Victory 6-0 in the derby, Melbourne City welcomes Macarthur FC to AAMI Park for the first time in A-League history.
The Bulls have not looked out of place at all in their inaugural A-League season and will provide City with a stern test on Friday night despite a 2-0 loss in its most recent A-League fixture to table-toppers Central Coast.
For Melbourne City, coach Patrick Kisnorbo has finally been able to get his men into a winning rhythm having collected all nine points on offer in its last three games.
City striker and offensive focal point Jamie Maclaren has launched himself to the top of the goal-scoring charts after netting the opener against Victory over the weekend.
Tough to get a gauge on the two teams given they’ve never met each other.
As such, the draw looks to be good value.
Prediction: Melbourne City 1 Macarthur FC 1
Suggested Bet: Draw head to head at $3.80
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Head to head draw
Leg 2: Total goals under 2.5
Leg 3: Jamie Maclaren to score anytime
Combined odds = $9.5
Sydney FC vs. Newcastle Jets
March 13th 5:05pm
The 2020 A-League champion Sydney FC does battle against the Newcastle Jets at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Sky Blues will be seeking to roll on with the winning momentum after arguably its most impressive performance of this campaign.
Steve Corica had his men humming in a 2-0 win over Western United on Wednesday as Sydney dominated possession.
Meanwhile, Newcastle was left to rue a 2-1 defeat at Hindmarsh Stadium against Adelaide United and now finds itself sitting second-last and four points above Melbourne Victory.
While there is a clear gap in class between the two sides, Sydney FC has battled to get a win prior to the triumph over Western Sydney.
Newcastle has shown improvement compared to last year but would need to complete a form reversal and deal with travelling back from Adelaide.
Prediction: Sydney FC 3 Newcastle Jets 2
Suggested Bet: Sydney FC head to head at $1.95
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Sydney FC head to head
Leg 2: Both teams to score
Leg 3: Kosta Barbarouses to score anytime
Combined odds = $4.75
Melbourne Victory vs. Adelaide United
march 13th 7:10pm
Grant Brebnar’s helm as Melbourne Victory coach could well and truly be on the line tonight when his bottom-placed squad face long-time A-League rivals Adelaide United on Saturday night.
It has been a disastrous season for the Victory thus far having only managed two wins from its opening 10 games, of which seven has resulted in losses.
The most recent of those losses being a 6-0 hiding against cross-town rivals Melbourne City which was the worst ever result in that fixture in the club’s esteemed history.
For Adelaide United, it has been a completely different story.
The Reds sit fourth spot on the back of three consecutive wins and head into this game after a 2-1 triumph over Newcastle.
Craig Goodwin showed his worth yet again after netting the 77th minute winner at Newcastle and looks all but certain to continue his good form against the worst defence in the league.
Having conceded 23 goals, Victory need to sharpen up at the back if there is any chance of pinching a result in this game.
However, Adelaide are in form, look finals bound and should collect the three points here.
Prediction: Melbourne Victory 1 Adelaide United 2
Suggested Bet: Adelaide United head to head at $2.55
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Adelaide United head to head
Leg 2: Both teams to score
Leg 3: Craig Goodwin to score anytime
Combined odds = $5.25
Central Coast Mariners vs. Perth Glory
march 14th 4:05pm
League leaders Central Coast Mariners play host to Perth Glory on Sunday evening in a bid to keep its surprise start to the season churning along.
Teenage sensation Alou Kuol has proven a revelation for the Mariners upfront this year.
Mariners coach Alen Stajcic’s faith in the 19-year-old has been rewarded with six goals from 11 appearances as the Mariners continue to defy their knockers.
A 2-0 win over Macarthur FC has the Mariners sitting on 24 points with a goal difference of plus nine (20 goals for and 11 goals against).
Both Glory and the Mariners met for the first time this season a fortnight ago and it was the Mariners who came out on top with a 2-1 victory.
Since then, the Glory suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Wellington Phoenix.
Glory will be looking to atone for those two losses but the Mariners, as they did two weeks ago, should prove the superior team on the night.
Prediction: Central Coast Mariners 2 Perth Glory 1
Suggested Bet: Central Coast head to head at $2.20
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Central Coast head to head
Leg 2: Both teams to score
Combined odds = $3.50
Western United vs. Brisbane Roar
march 14th 6:10pm
Both Western United and Brisbane will venture towards getting back into the winners list when the pair face off at AAMI Park on Sunday night.
With its sights set on going one better than the semi-final loss last year, Western United has been unable to maintain any winning momentum in its second ever A-League campaign, while the Brisbane Roar have failed to win a match in its last five fixtures.
It has been a disappointing week for Mark Rudan’s squad who struggled in a 1-0 loss to Western Sydney and a 2-0 loss to Sydney FC.
Diamanti missed the loss against Sydney and is expected to return on Sunday.
The Italian playmaker will provide a much needed boost in attack after a lacklustre offensive display against the Sky Blues.
Meanwhile, the Roar had looked like a genuine title threat early in the year but its form has dropped away in recent weeks.
It’s last win was a 5-2 pummelling of bottom–placed Melbourne Victory and since then it has only managed to salvage three points in its last five fixtures to sit sixth on the A-League table.
Tough to predict either way in this game but with Diamanti likely to start, Western United should have the edge.
Prediction: Western United 1 Brisbane Roar 0
Suggested Bet: Western United head to head at $2.35
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western United head to head
Leg 2: Total goals under 2.5
Leg 3: Besart Berisha to score anytime
Combined odds = $8.5
