It’s a blockbuster weekend of football in Round 18, with both the New Zealand and Melbourne Derby’s taking place. It’s a massive round of A-League action, and the BeforeYouBet team has you covered with our best bets!
A-League 2025-26: Round 18 Preview & Betting Tips
Wellington Phoenix vs Auckland FC
Sky Stadium, Saturday 21st February, 3:00pm AEDT
The New Zealand Derby kicks off Saturday’s slate, with Auckland FC travelling to the capital city to take on the Phoenix. Auckland remained in second place after being on the fortunate side of a horror own goal in the fifth minute of stoppage, that secured a 1-1 draw against Sydney FC, keeping them three points clear of the Sky Blues. Wellington produced one of their best halves of the season last week, rallying from 2-0 down against Western Sydney to pick up a 2-2 draw with goals in the 68th and 71st minutes.
Auckland have been a shell of themselves since the turn of the calendar year, winning just two of their eight games since January 1st. Fortunately for Auckland, Wellington come into this game winless in their last four games, and have conceded eleven goals in the winless run. The Phoenix are the worst defensive outfit in the A-League, having conceded a league high 33 goals this season, nearly averaging two goals against per game.
Auckland have certainly had the better of the New Zealand Derby since entering the A-League, with a perfect 5-0-0 record against Wellington. The Black Knights have dominated their rivals, with an aggregate scoreline of 15-4 across those five games. This game presents as a perfect opportunity for Auckland FC to get back to winning ways, coming up against an out of form opponent that they have a great record against. Auckland were 2-0 winners the last time they faced off, and it will be another comfortable victory for the Black Knights.
Auckland FC -1
$2.90 (1 Unit)
Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory
AAMI Park, Saturday 21st February, 7:35pm AEDT
Sixth versus seventh, with just two points separating the two rivals, Saturday’s Melbourne Derby will be one of the most important games of the season. As has been the nature of the middle of the table teams, both Victory and City have had fluctuating form lines over their last five games. Both clubs have 2-1-2 records across their last five games, with both sides held to draws by teams below them on the table in their last game.
This game likely will be a grind, with these two sides not the most potent attacking units. City are the third lowest scoring team in the league with just 19 goals from 17 games, while the Victory haven’t fared much better, scoring 24 goals. Both sides have been amongst the best defensive outfits in the A-League, ranking third and fourth in the competition for fewest goals conceded.
In eleven out of City’s seventeen games this season, the total goals has been under 2.5. While The Victory have played in nine games where the total goals has been under 2.5. There’s plenty on the line in this clash in the battle for top six positions, so both teams will be looking to be rock solid from a defensive aspect and limit risk taking in their front half. Either team is capable of winning this game, but it will be a high pressure, low scoring grind.
Under 2.5 Total Goals
$1.91 (2 Units)
Newcastle Jets vs Macarthur
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 22nd February, 6:00pm AEDT
Round 18 wraps up in Newcastle with a clash between first and fifth, as the Jets host the Bulls. Macarthur’s season has stalled, with just one win from their last six games as they cling to fifth spot. Newcastle are on an eight game winning streak, which has them in some historic areas. It’s the longest winning streak in the club’s history, and they are knocking on the door of the longest winning streak in A-League history (10 consecutive wins by the Wanderers in 2013).
Mark Milligan’s side continue to be unstoppable from an attacking standpoint, scoring three goals in their Round 17 win - the ninth time in their last ten games they’ve scored at least two goals. The Jets have scored 40 goals this season, 12 more than the next best side, and have a genuine chance of breaking the record for most goals in an A-League season, set by Sydney FC back in 2017/18. Macarthur haven’t excelled at either end of the pitch this season, and it’s difficult to see them finding a way to combat Newcastle’s attacking game.
Remarkably Macarthur was the last team to beat Newcastle, in an epic 5-4 game back in December, however the two teams have had opposite fortunates since that game. Newcastle have gone 8-0-0, with an aggregate score of 20-7, while Macarthur have had a 2-4-1 record with an aggregate score of 12-10. Newcastle are on an absolute heater at the moment and have shown no signs of slowing down. Expect another high scoring performance by the league leaders, to extend their historic winning streak.
Newcastle to Win
$1.85 (1.5 Units)
