We finished ahead of the ledge in A-League Round 4 and are confident we can bring you another winning week in Round 5. Jake Smit delivers his best bet for every fixture for this weekend’s action!
A-League Round 5 Preview & Betting Tips
Melbourne Victory vs Newcastle Jets
Friday 7:45pm AEDT, AAMI Park
Winless since their 3-2 victory over Sydney in Round 1, Melbourne Victory will be hoping to kickstart their season on their home deck on Friday night. They’ve failed to score a goal in their last three outings, although they’ve had some tough luck along the way. Likewise, the Jets will be looking to get back on the winners list after going down to the Wanderers last start, which was their first loss of the season.
The away side has won each of the last four fixtures between these teams, with each team winning twice. There has also been plenty of goals scored with the Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals market hitting in each of their last three meetings. I’m expecting another entertaining game between two teams that will be desperate to get back to winnings ways. Taking the overs in the 2.5 goals market looks to be the way to play this one.
Over 2.5 Goals
$1.80 (2 Units)
Melbourne City vs Perth Glory
Saturday 5pm AEDT, AAMI Park
Perth Glory continue on their travels and will stop over in Melbourne this weekend to take on last season’s runner-up and this season’s league leaders in Melbourne City. This will be Glory’s final road game before heading back to play in front of their home fans next weekend. Their performances have been slightly more encouraging than last campaign, although they still enter Saturday night’s fixture with three losses from four outings.
Melbourne City will start as the short-priced favourites on their home deck and for good reason. They’ve been the benchmark in the competition for a couple of years now, while Glory have dwindled away down the bottom. I expect City to control this match from the outset to record a comfortable wire-to-wire win.
Melbourne City HT/FT
$2.05 (1 Unit)
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 7:45pm AEDT, CommBank Stadium
The Wanderers are off to a flying start as they look to make amends for their poor 2021-22 campaign. They’re one of two clubs still undefeated after four rounds and sit pretty in second spot on the ladder. This weekend they welcome the Mariners to CommBank Stadium who have had a mixed bag in their three games, owning a 1-1-1 record.
The Wanderers defence has been outstanding so far and clearly the best in the competition. They’ve conceded only one goal in four starts, while the Mariners have conceded six from three games. With form and home ground advantage on their side, the Wanderers look to be well over the odds to secure another three points this weekend.
Western Sydney Wanderers H2H
$2 (2.5 Units)
Wellington Phoenix vs Macarthur FC
Sunday 1pm AEDT, Sky Stadium
Wellington are desperately unlucky to still be winless after four starts but will get their opportunity to get off the mark at home this weekend. They take on a Macarthur side coming off a loss on their home deck against Sydney. Both teams will be desperate to find some better form to kickstart their campaigns and put themselves in a strong position in what looms as one of the more competitive A-League seasons across the board.
It's a tricky fixture to predict in terms of a winner, but it’s one that you can expect to be a high-scoring affair. 4+ goals have been scored in each of the Phoenix’s last three matches, while the Both Teams to Score market has hit in seven of their last eight. There isn’t a great deal of value in either market here, so I’ll just be having a small play at the overs.
Over 2.5 Goals
$1.60 (1 Unit)
Brisbane Roar vs Sydney FC
Sunday 3pm AEDT, Moreton Daily Stadium
Brisbane Roar’s struggles continued last week when they were held goalless in a 0-0 draw at home against Melbourne Victory. Roar have found the back of the net only once from four fixtures in a trend that’s continued from last season. In contrast, Sydney banged in three goals against Macarthur last weekend to take their goal tally to 10 for the season. Their deficiencies are on the defensive end at the moment as they’re yet to keep a clean sheet.
Sydney will need to improve their defence if they’re to be serious contenders to win the title this season, but they won’t have to be world beaters to get the job done against the Roar on current form. Sydney have the class edge and I’m happy to be backing them into win on the road for 2.5 units.
Sydney FC H2H
$2.30 (2.5 Units)
Western United vs Adelaide United
Sunday 5pm AEDT, AAMI Park
Western United’s quest to defend their title went from bad to worse last weekend when they coughed up a two-goal lead at half time to lose 4-2 against the Mariners. United have only secured one point from four fixtures and sit in last position as a result. This weekend they’ll welcome Adelaide United to AAMI Park who are a team yet to hit their straps themselves. Adelaide broke their duck with a win over the lowly Glory last weekend but remain outside the top six.
Clearly, Western United have underperformed so far but we’re still only four games into the season and there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge. They get a fantastic opportunity to find some form at home against an Adelaide team who will be lucky to be a top-six outfit this season. Western United simply have to win this fixture and they’re good odds to do so.
Western United H2H
$2.40 (1.5 Units)
