2025/26 A-League Tips | Round 3

We can only hope this game is as much fun as last season’s matchup between these teams at Go Media Stadium, which ended in a wild 4-4 draw that saw two goals after the 90^th minute.

In fact, both meetings between these teams last season were entertaining draws in fact with the match at Hindmarsh finishing 2-2 with goals in the 95^th and 99^th minutes.

However it’s not something I’m overly keen to back this time around because Auckland looked like they are going to continue their impressive home form this season.

They took care of business last week against the Wanderers and are deserved favourites to knock off an Adelaide side that is on short rest and back to back away days.

On Monday night they fell 2-1 to Macarthur and couldn’t capitalise on the weight of possession and scoring chances.

Auckland is too strong at the back and I’ll happily take them to pick up all three points in front of their fans.

We know Wellington is going to go on the attack in this game having not really taken their foot off the accelerator through two weeks,

They needed every available second of the match to defeat a stubborn Brisbane side last weekend but they will no doubt take plenty of confidence from that hard earned victory.

Not to mention they belted the Mariners 3-0 last November and if they can get things going early, it’s tough to see the home side being able to rally.

Central Coast’s Round 1 win over Newcastle in their local derby was great, but their loss to Sydney FC last weekend seems like a far more accurate representation of what they are going to be this year.

I’m not sure the Nix have the talent at the back to keep Central Coast at bay for 90 minutes and they will have to adapt to the loss of Tim Payne who injured his shoulder last week.

But that relentless attack is going to at least be enough to help this game get to the over.