Western United will kick off Round 15 of the A-League season still buzzing from their dramatic win over Melbourne Victory last Friday night.
That moved them to within three points of the top of the table as John Aloisi’s youth revitalisation project took another step in the right direction.
All things considered they should be able to take care of business against a stubborn but limited Newcastle Jets side.
Hiroshi Ibusuki has lead the line with aplomb for the green and black so far and is the justifiable favourite in the first goalscorer market as well.
BEST: Western United to Win $1.75 | VALUE: Hiroshi Ibusuki First Goalscorer $4.75
It was far from pretty for the Wanderers during the week but they managed to get the job done out in Perth on Tuesday night.
Now they are back at home for the first time since New Years’ Day with the chance to leapfrog up into the top six with the right result.
Their front line will be frothing at the mouth to take on a struggling Mariners backline that just gave up four to Sydney FC.
It would be a big surprise to see this match finish in a close result as the Wanderers look primed for a statement.
BEST: Western Sydney to Win $1.82 | VALUE: Western Sydney to Win Both Halves $4.80
It does not get any easier for Auckland FC this weekend with a tough assignment on the cards at Go Media Stadium.
Over their last five games they have won one, drawn two and lost two as injuries depleted the squad and they will have to navigate this clash without key defender and captain Hiroki Sakai who sustained a head knock in last week’s loss in Perth.
Melbourne City won’t be offering any sympathy for their opponents here however with a lengthy absentee list of their own, however their academy has come through in a big way this season.
City are surprise outsiders in the market at publish, but that just means there is some value to be had backing the upset.
BEST: Melbourne City to Win $3.45 | VALUE: Melbourne City to Win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 $5.75
Travel is the only thing that will stop Sydney FC from running riot in this match.
The Sky Blues will be backing up from a midweek trip to Wellington which might necessitate some rotation, but that squad is still good enough to handle Brisbane.
One player who could benefit from such a rotation is Jayden Kurcharski who scored the winner when these teams met in Brisbane last November.
Don’t be surprised if he pops up on the scoresheet at some point during this match.
BEST: Sydney to Win and Over 2.5 Goals $1.80 | VALUE: Jayden Kurcharski Anytime Goalscorer
It’s the start of a very big couple of days in Adelaide with the Reds in position to take control of the premiership race as long as they can navigate a couple of tricky trials.
Up first is a resolute if slightly out of form Melbourne Victory in front of a packed crowd in the City of Churches and the fans will be expecting all three points.
Now winless in five, the Victory are playing some decent football but a full 90 minute effort has eluded them since the departure of Patrick Kisnorbo.
A close match is almost certain, but at home and with the weight of momentum, take the Reds.
BEST: Adelaide to Win $2.25 | VALUE: Draw/Adelaide HT/FT $5.50
It’s another Monday night special in Campbelltown with the Nix afforded an extra bit of rest before making this trip to Sydney.
However it might not be enough to solve their form woes with the Bulls playing with plenty of confidence at the midway point of the campaign.
Lead by Valere Germain, Macarthur has won three of its last four to be in position for a premiership run over the next few months.
Mile Sterjovski has them playing well and they look like a solid bet for this fixture.
BEST: Macarthur to Win $1.80 | VALUE: Valere Germain First Goalscorer
The schedule makers have provided viewers with a surprising midweek blockbuster as the top two teams in the A-League face off.
Both sides are coming off impressive victories on the weekend, with Auckland’s convincing win over Melbourne City a sign they might be overcoming their recent form slump.
Meanwhile Adelaide managed to knock off the Victory in the latest edition of the Original Rivalry making it three wins in a row to take over top spot from City.
We have a clash of contrasting styles here with the Reds trending towards more open and expansive contests while Auckland’s success has been based on their backline, which has conceded just once in the last 270 minutes of football.
In Adelaide, with something to prove you have to give the edge to the home team and if they can get the match played on their terms, they should be able to take care of business and open up a bit of breathing room.
BEST: Adelaide to Win $1.95 | VALUE: Adelaide to Win and Over 4.5 Goals $6.00