The A-League ladder has been shaken up after both Auckland and Sydney lost in Round 13, meaning there are now just four points separating first place from sixth place. The top ten teams are in the hunt for a finals place, in what has been a chaotic season! Jack Tobin brings you his best bets for this weekend's Round 14 games below.
A-League 2025-26: Round 14 Preview & Betting Tips
Newcastle Jets vs Wellington Phoenix
McDonald Jones Stadium, Friday 23rd January, 7:35pm AEDT
Newcastle Jets will be looking to build on their strong mid-season form when they welcome Wellington Phoenix to McDonald Jones Stadium in Round 14. Three straight wins has Newcastle sitting in third place, with the Jets riding a hot wave in an up and down season. It doesn’t take a deep dive to see their inconsistent nature, Newcastle have a 7-0-6 record, they are ranked as the best attacking side in the A-League (26 goals scored), as well as the worst defensive side (24 goals conceded).
Wellington are only two points off the top six after their upset win over second placed Sydney FC. The Phoenix were the first team to beat the Sky Blues at home this season, and are unbeaten across their last three games. The key for the Phoenix is how they hold up defensively, in their last three wins they’ve only conceded one goal. However across the entirety of the season they are ranked as the second worst defence in the league having conceded 22 goals.
Both sides have struggled for consistency, however the attacking upside of Newcastle should hold them in good stead against a Wellington side that has been vulnerable at the back this season. The Jets will make this a fast, free flowing affair at home that should give the Phoenix plenty of issues. Wellington have only won two of their six away games this season, and their road struggles will continue on Friday night.
Newcastle Jets -1
$2.45 (1 Unit)
Auckland FC vs Central Coast Mariners
Go Media Stadium, Saturday 24th January, 3:00pm AEDT
Auckland FC will be desperate to bounce back when they host Central Coast to kick off Saturday’s slate of games. The league leaders have only won two of their last five games, in a rare form slump for the benchmark team of the last two seasons. The Mariners have had a difficult season on and off the pitch, sitting in eleventh place on the table with a 3-3-7 record. The Mariners defence has been one of the worst in the league this season, conceding 21 goals, the third most in the league.
Despite their form slump, the league leaders have a very balanced statistical profile, ranking fourth for goals scored (19), fourth for fewest goals conceded (14). Their balance has been a massive strength over the past two seasons, as they’ve continuously grinded out results even when they aren’t at their best. They are the most consistent side in the A-League, and are playing against a side that has struggled to excel in any phase of the game over the past two seasons.
Not only is their current form line against them, so is history for the Mariners. Central Coast haven't beaten Auckland since they joined the league, with two losses and a draw from their three games against the New Zealand side. The Mariners also struggle away from home, with a 2-0-4 record in away games this season, ranked 10th in the league. One of the easiest games to predict this weekend, Auckland will win convincingly.
Auckland FC -1
$2.00 (1 Unit)
Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
AAMI Park, Monday 26th January, 5:30pm AEDT
The oldest rivalry in the history of the A-League adds another chapter on Monday evening as Melbourne Victory host Sydney FC at AAMI Park. The Victory are in desperate need of a win after back to back defeats has seen them drop out of the top six, currently sitting in ninth. The Sky Blues missed a chance to jump into top place on the table, when they were upset by Wellington at home, the first time Sydney has lost at home this season.
Melbourne Victory’s lack of attacking potency has haunted them over the past fortnight, as they’ve only scored one goal across their last two games. Victory have generated 28 shots on goal across those two games, and if they can’t become a more efficient side, their hopes of playing finals look slim. On the other side, Sydney FC are the best defensive team in the league having only allowed 9 goals this season, so it’s unlikely the home side will produce as many opportunities at goals as they have in their last two games.
The Sky Blues have produced some dominant performances against Victory in recent times, winning two of their last three games against their rivals, by scorelines of 3-0. Melbourne Victory are capable of beating Sydney if they play at their best at both ends of the pitch, however we haven’t seen enough to expect it to happen. The Sky Blues defence will strangle the Victory, en route to a bounce back win on the road.
Sydney FC to Win
$2.90 (1.5 Units)
