The following are previews with betting tips for Round 26 of the 2017/18 A-League season.
View and compare the latest A-League bookmaker odds
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Friday, April 6
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Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory7:50 PM AEDT, McDonald Jones Stadium |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: For Newcastle it was their 2nd straight 3 goal loss as they went down to City 3-0. While for the Glory it was a spirited fightback as after being down 3-0 against Sydney they fought back to make the eventual score a more respectable 3-2. Despite playing at home and having more ball then the opposition, the Jets couldn’t find a way through to the goals. They fired of 14 shots, but only 3 of them were on target in what was only one part of a dismal performance from the 2nd placed side. Newcastle also conceded 15 fouls as well as being forced to make a total of 17 tackles, 8 more then that of what Melbourne had to make. Their game was error strewn, while Daniel Arzani made them look anything but the consistent and strong side they have been for most of the season. All-round it was not a good game from the Jets. For Perth among the low-lights from their loss was being down 1-0 inside the opening 12 minutes as well as giving away a penalty, one in which opposition Striker Bobo calmly converted. However two late Adam Taggart strikes, one of which was simply magnificent, saw the Glory lose but put some real respectability to their name. They shot 6 of their 15 shots on target as well as having passed the ball at an 80% accuracy rate. Despite the loss they are still a mathematical chance of featuring in the finals.
What Should Happen: Over their past two games, Newcastle have leaked in 8 goals and scored only 2 in reply. While the Glory on the other-hand have beaten the Victory and in the process kept them goalless on the score-sheet while they pushed the reigning Champions to their limits. Boogard’s not going to come back this game, while Nabbout won’t make a miraculous u-turn and come back to the Hunter Valley from Japan. Those players are gone and it’s clearly hurting Ernie Merrick’s men. This while as the finals edge closer and closer, Perth will just get more and more desperate to feature in them. Expect a tight Glory win, keeping their season alive in the process.
Betting tip: Pick the Glory to win at $3.45 (UniBet)
Saturday, April 7
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Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar5:35 PM AEDT, ANZ Stadium |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: Michael Thwaite saw red and gave away a penalty. While their was also a sending-off to Barbarouses in the Wanderers disappointing 3-1 defeat to Melbourne Victory. While the Roar just scraped home past the Mariners in a 1-0 victory. The Wanderers struck through Alvaro Cejudo in the 46th minute, but that was just about the only joy they had in a game that pushed them out of the Top 6 and their finals destiny not in their own hands anymore. Josep Gombau’s side took a massive 20 shots and weren’t goal shy, however their conversion rate was absolutely crap as they saw only 5 of them go on target. They also dominated the possession at 58%. However an absolutely damming stat from this match was that Western Sydney gave away a huge 25 fouls. Meanwhile for Brisbane, their tight win over the Central Coast saw them pip Western Sydney points wise and in the process move into a finals position. At times it most certainly wasn’t pretty, however they got the job done courtesy of Henrique’s 13th minute strike. They too like WSW were wasteful in front of goal, seeing only 4 of their 16 shots go on target. However in a fair play effort to the home side, they kept the Mariners to only 2 shots on target for the duration of the match. While Brisbane were also very smart and gave away only a single yellow card on the game.
What Should Happen: Despite Perth mathematically having a chance of being in the finals, points wise and goal difference means it would take a miracle for them to get a Top Six position. As such it leaves these two teams to fight for the one remaining spot and this game will be a winner takes all scenario. For the Wanderers you have a fairy tale side that shouldn’t be here after their coach dramatically quit just before the start of the season and left the club in utter disarray. While in the Roar you have a fallen power-house who have over come massive injury tolls to be within a fighting chance of achieving something special. Both sides will be fighting their very hardest to win it, but only one can come out on top. Expect Gombau’s men to show their attacking flair and claim 6th spot in the process.
Betting tip: Pick WSW to win at $2.40 (William Hill)
Also pick them to score first at $1.88 (CrownBet)
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Melbourne City v Central Coast Mariners7:50 PM AEDT, AAMI Park |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: City easily disposed of the Jets winning 3-0. While for the Mariners they suffered another agonizing loss, going down to Brisbane 1-0. For Melbourne their goals came through Bruno Fornarolli and a double to Dario Vidosic. While the score could have been a lot bigger if Daniel Arzani’s magical passes had been capitalized upon more often or if they had really put the Jets lackluster defence to the sword. However just as impressive as their attack, was their play on the other side of the field where they kept Newcastle to only 3 shots on target for the entire game. While even better than that was the fact that Warren Joyce’s men were the first team this entire campaign to hold Ernie Merrick’s men scoreless!!! What a feat that was and still is for his side. However City were a bit reckless as they gave away 17 fouls. While for the Mariners it was another loss for them as they remain locked in 9th place. Their shooting was absolutely pathetic as they took a total of 8 shots for the entire game and saw only 2 of them go on target. They had a few moments that could have been something but as usual they stuffed it up. As a result they’ve scored only one goal from their past two matches. While if it weren’t for some of Ben Kennedy’s efforts in goals, who knows what the score could’ve been.
What Should Happen: A Melbourne City master-class in how to play Football. Not only have City tasted success in their past two games for a combined 6-0 score-line, but the Mariners haven’t won in their past 4. While along the way they have conceded 1, 2, 5 and 3 goals respectively. While with the likes of Fornarolli (3 goals in 6 games), Arzani (2 goals and 21 shot assists) and Vidosic (5 goals and 2 assists) constantly lurking forward, the game may be over before it even starts for the Mariners.
Betting tip: Pick City to win at $1.36 (William Hill, Sportsbet)
Also pick them to be the only team to score at $2.10 (William Hill) (Bet is for at least one team not to score)
Sunday, April 8
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Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix5:00 PM AEDT, AAMI Park |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: Two red cards, a penalty, 4 goals within the space of 22 minutes and 3 in 5 + a 3-1 score-line saw the Victory come away as victors. Oh and their was also a simply superb Thomas Deng free-kick involved in all of that as well. While Wellington went down 3-1 to Adelaide. Leroy George struck first for Melbourne in the 30th minute. Then Thomas Deng scored a stunner in the 51st minute, then only a minute late Berisha found gold with a nicely taken penalty attempt. While the home side were also very accurate in front of goal with 6 of their 14 shots going on target. This despite having only 42% possession. The score could have been bigger had they not have a shot come of the woodwork. However they were also very sloppy in some regards as they gave away 18 fouls and a huge total of 43 were called for the game. Melbourne also won an impressive 68 duels. While for the Phoenix it was too late for them to get something from their game against Adelaide as they were down 3-0 already before Logan Rogerson found the back of the net in the 84th minute. Adelaide’s defence was very strong in shutting down the Wellington attack this game as usually the Phoenix’s offence fires of in excess of 20+ shots per game, but against United the final tally read only 11. However in a small positive for the NZ based club they completed 326 of their 391 attempted passes for a 83% completion rate.
What Should Happen: The Victory putting themselves only one point of a first week home final. They’ll beat Wellington, no doubt and probably fairly easily at that as well. The recent history between these two sides has seen Melbourne win 11 of their past 17 against the Phoenix, with some big scores in their as well. These include 6-1 and two 4-1’s + a 3-0 in there as well. In that 6-1 victory, Berisha found the back of the net 3 times. The Victory are primed for a big game and you can no doubt expect the Fiery Albanian to be at the front of it all.
Betting tip: Pick the Victory to win at $1.36 (TopBetta, UniBet, PalmerBet, BlueBet, Sportsbet)
Pick Besart Berisha to score anytime during the game at $1.60 (William Hill)
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Sydney FC v Adelaide United7:00 PM AEDT, Allianz Stadium |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: Sydney escaped Perth with a close 3-2 victory. While for Adelaide they beat the Phoenix with relative ease 3-1. Two late Adam Taggart goals saw Perth make the game closer than it really should have been vs the Sky Blues. However the Champs goals came from an 23rd and 24th of the season to Bobo, a new regular season record and a 13th of the season to Adrian. The pair were absolutely dominant in this game, while Bobo again showed his calmness to convert a penalty. Sydney had more ball then their opponents, a better passing accuracy and saw 6 of their 15 shots go on target. This was a decent performance from Sydney and one that was sorely needed after they just scraped by the Mariners the week before. As for United in their easy win over cellar-dwellers Wellington, their strikes came via Absalonsen, Garuccio and Konstandopolous. They were also on fire in front of goal as 10 of their 16 shots were on target in addition to their 55% possession. While they also completed 86% of their passes as well as having won more regular duels and aerial duels than the Phoenix. This was an all-round impressive effort heading into their game against the side that just pipped them for the FFA Cup during ET earlier in the season.
What Should Happen: An entertaining game. Not that long ago Graham Arnold announced his departure from Sydney at the end of the season. And in turn rumors started to pop up about who would replace him at Sydney. Current Adelaide master-mind Marco Kurz was a name strongly linked with the role. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in the lead-up to the game and if it affects both or one squad on the pitch.
Betting tip: Pick Sydney to win at $2.20 (William Hill)
Pick them to also score first at $1.75 (William Hill)
Best Bet of the Round
Pick Bobo to score any time vs ADL at $1.85 (William Hill)
                   Pick Adrian to score any time vs ADL at $2.50 (William Hill)