The 2016-17 A-league season continues this weekend and while Sydney FC remain undefeated they dropped their first points of the year. Continue reading for our 2016-17 A-league Round 8 Preview and Betting Tips.
A-League Round 8 Betting Tips
Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory (Thursday 7.50pm AEST)
Round 8 kicks off on Thursday night with the Mariners hosting the Glory and it will be the away side who will be out for revenge after their embarrassment in the opening round of the competition. That match ended in a draw but the Glory looked to be coasting as they took a 3-0 lead into the halftime break. However, the Mariners were able to bounce back strongly and level the scores in a remarkable come back. We are predicting the Glory side won’t allow that to happen this time as they won’t be complacent. The Mariners are coming off a draw against the Jets where their keeper was awarded the man of the match award which shows us how fortunate they were to not suffer another loss. Meanwhile the Glory are coming off a strong 3-1 win against Adelaide United and will earn the three points in this one.
TIP: Glory to win - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Brisbane Roar (Friday 7.50pm AEST)
The Roar became the first side of the season to earn points against Sydney FC and they were forced to defend strongly. It is a great showing from the Roar and it suggests they are beginning to find some consistency within their team. They were able to break a part the defensive structure of the Sky Blues and they should be able to do that with a lot more ease this weekend against the Wanderers.
The home side was able to earn a draw against Melbourne City last weekend and it was one of their best defensive performances of the season. However, we don’t believe they will be able to keep this up as they are lacking experience and talent in this area. The Roar haven’t been strong on the road this year but we are predicting them to turn that around on Friday night.
TIP: Roar to win - $2.75 at Ladbrokes
Melbourne Victory vs Newcastle Jets (Saturday 5.35pm AEST)
The Victory had the benefit of a week off last week and the side will be fresh when they head into this contest. They have begun to find their best form and the side will be full of confidence. The team has managed 14 goals in six games this year which suggests they are at their attacking best – however, that doesn’t reflect it appropriately due to the six goals they put past the Phoenix a month ago.
An area where they have been undeniably strong is in defence and we are predicting the Jets to struggle to create opportunities against them, especially on the road. The Jets had chances to win against the Mariners but weren’t able to find the back of the net and they can’t afford to miss out this weekend if they are to stand a chance. We are predicting a comfortable home side win.
TIP: HT/FT – Victory/Victory - $2.18 at CrownBet
Sydney FC vs Adelaide United (Saturday 7.50pm AEST)
The Reds are stranded on the bottom of the table and are without a league win in their opening 8 games of the season. Unfortunately for them it doesn’t look like it will get any better for them as they are facing Sydney FC this weekend and they will be out for vengeance after dropping their first competition points of the season. The Sky Blues still put together a strong performance and in their defence they were on the road and against another strong team. Their incredible run had to come to an end and some point. We are extremely confident the side will bounce back to its winning ways this Saturday night and so are the bookmakers.
TIP: Sydney FC to win - $1.53 at Sportsbet
Melbourne City vs Wellington Phoenix (Sunday 5pm AEST)
For the final match of the round, Melbourne City will host the New Zealanders Wellington Phoenix. In the earlier meeting between these two sides this year, Melbourne City were able to earn a narrow victory and we are expecting another tight contest. The Phoenix were embarrassed on their last trip to Melbourne – against the Victory – and we believe they would have learned a lot from that performance. The side has improved since then and they are beginning to find their goal scoring boots. The side had a week off as their match against the Victory was post poned and they should be fresh heading into this contest.
City will be at full strength this weekend and it is only a matter of time before the side reaches its full potential, especially in front of goal. They have a lot of talent up front and playing with their home crowd behind them should be enough to get them over the line on Sunday.
TIP: HT/FT – City/City - $2.30 at Sportsbet
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
