Round 9 of the A-League season is headlined by the Melbourne Derby, while a top six clash between Perth and Adelaide has the potential to shake up the top end of the table. Jack Tobin takes a look at the key fixtures and offers his best bets below!
A-League 2025-26: Round 9 Preview & Betting Tips
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Auckland FC
CommBank Stadium, Friday 19th December, 8:00pm AEDT
As Round 9 of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men approaches, Western Sydney Wanderers and Auckland FC lock horns in what promises to be an intriguing trans-Tasman showdown. Both sides will be eager to build momentum as the season enters its first critical phase, with positions on the ladder beginning to take shape after eight matches. Auckland sit second on the table, while the Wanderers are 7th, equal on points with sixth placed Adelaide United.
Auckland FC come into this fixture in strong form, reinforcing their credentials as one of the best sides in the league. They’ve continued to pick up results and look well balanced at both ends of the pitch. Their recent Round 2 clash against the Wanderers ended in a 1-0 victory for Auckland, with Jesse Randall’s early goal proving decisive. That result highlighted Auckland’s ability to defend leads, and take chances in attack when they present themselves.
The historical head to head matchup between these sides suggests a competitive game is on the cards on Friday night. Across their recent meetings, Auckland have had the edge, winning two of the last three encounters with a draw in the other fixture. Goals have been hard to come by in this matchup with Auckland never scoring more than one goal in a game against the Wanderers. Auckland have been the close game kings in their time in the A-League, while the Wanderers this season have shown they’ve struggled to capitalise on their opportunities. Auckland will get over the line in a tight game.
Auckland FC to Win
$2.60 (1.5 Units)
Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory
AAMI Park, Saturday 20th December, 7:35pm AEDT
The Melbourne Derby returns in Round 9 of the 2025/26 A-League Men season as Melbourne City welcome Melbourne Victory to AAMI Park in what is always one of the most charged fixtures on the calendar. With City needing to gain ground on the top two and Victory eager to get off the bottom of the table and stay in the hunt for the top six, this derby could swing momentum for both sides at a crucial stage of the campaign. Having not played a game in ten days coming into this fixture, the defending champions should come in fresh and full of energy.
City currently sit in fourth place on the ladder with 12 points from 7 games, showcasing a strong start with a mix of wins and draws that underline their credentials as finals contenders. In contrast, Victory find themselves at the bottom of the table, although they picked up a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Adelaide United in their most recent match, with Nikos Vergos bagging a brace. Remarkably, the Victory are only one point away from the top six.
The league table and recent form highlight the gulf between the two sides. City’s ability to grind out results and stay competitive week-in, week-out reflects their championship pedigree, having beaten Victory in the 2025 A-League Men Grand Final. City will likely set up with a structured, balanced approach, leveraging a strong midfield and a robust defence that has served them well in tight games. Their capacity to soak up pressure and hit on the counter has been evident this season, and derby matches tend to favour disciplined teams, like it did when these teams met earlier in the season.
Melbourne City to Win
$2.15 (2 Units)
Perth Glory vs Adelaide United
Hbf Park, Saturday 20th December, 9:45pm AEDT
The Round 9 showdown between Perth Glory and Adelaide United at HBF Park shapes as a pivotal clash for both sides as the A-League Men season heads into the busy Christmas period. With only a single point separating them on the ladder, this fixture has the feel of a six-pointer that will have a big influence on the table, given there’s only four points separating fifth placed Perth from last placed Melbourne Victory.
Both sides have been up and down this season, with Adelaide losing three straight games after being in the top three. While Perth had won three straight heading into last week, after losing their first three games of the season. Both teams' consistency issues can be highlighted by their work at the defensive end, having conceded 11 goals, ranked 8th in the league. Their inability to defend well week in, week out is the reason there is a gap between them and the top three teams in the league.
With the Reds having lost three straight games, it’s tough to pick them on the road, given they are the worst travelling team in the league. Adelaide United have an 0-0-4 record in away games, they are the only team in the league to have not picked up a point away from home this season. Perth will add more misery to Adelaide’s struggles and get across the line in a tight affair.
Perth Glory to Win
$2.63 (1 Unit)
