The A-League action continues over the new year period as Round 11 kicks off on New Year’s Day. It’s been a seesawing season with plenty of teams experiencing peaks and troughs with form, as the table continues to swing each round. We bring you our best bets for the round right here!
A-League 2025-26: Round 11 Preview & Betting Tips
Auckland FC vs Newcastle Jets
Go Media Stadium, Thursday 1st January, 3:00pm AEDT
Auckland FC have established themselves as arguably the standout outfit in the A-League this season, sitting atop the ladder after nine games played with 20 points and boasting one of the competition’s best goal differences. Their blend of tough defensive organisation and incisive attacking play has made them extremely hard to beat at Go Media Stadium, where they have given travelling sides plenty of trouble in their two seasons.
Newcastle Jets arrive in this Round 11 fixture in the midst of a difficult season, with a 4-0-6 record seeing them in ninth place on the A-League table. Their season so far has been a mixture of flashes of quality and defensive inconsistency. Remarkably the Jets have scored the most goals in the league (20) but have also conceded the most goals in the league (22) and this inconsistency was on full display in their 5-4 defeat on Boxing Day against Macarthur.
When you come up against the best team in the competition on their home ground, your game needs to be in high order to succeed. Auckland have picked apart sides at home over the past two seasons and it looms as a massive challenge for Newcastle to hold up defensively in this fixture. Auckland FC are a consistent outfit, ranking second in the league for defence and the fourth most prolific in attack, and their consistency will be far too good for Newcastle.
Auckland FC to Win
$1.70 (1.5 Units)
Melbourne Victory vs Perth Glory
AAMI Park, Friday 2nd January, 7:35pm AEDT
After occupying bottom place for a large portion of the season so far, three wins on the bounce and a four game unbeaten run remarkably has Melbourne Victory in sixth place. Victory put together their best attacking performance of the season on Monday in a 5-1 riot against Wellington Phoenix.Melbourne come up against a Perth Glory side that is just one point behind them and will be looking to work their way into the top six after upsetting Melbourne City at AAMI Park in their last game.
Victory’s improvement over the last month has come on the back of their defence having a major lift. Melbourne Victory have conceded three goals across their last five games after conceding ten goals across their first five games. Perth have struggled in their attacking third this season, scoring just 10 goals, ranked ninth in the A-League despite scoring three goals in their last game. If Melbourne can keep their defensive game going, it’s going to be difficult for the Glory to find a way to win.
This matchup has been very one-sided in recent seasons, with Victory winning their last five matches against Perth Glory. The Glory haven’t scored in their last three games against Victory and it’s going to be another difficult task given the form of Victory’s defence over the past month. Melbourne Victory will continue their strong form to make it four wins in a row and establish themselves inside the top six on the table. The last three games between these two sides have ended in 2-0 wins to Melbourne, and all things point towards another similar scoreline.
Melbourne Victory to Win
$1.75 (1 Unit)
Melbourne City vs Sydney FC
The headline fixture for Round 11 comes when Melbourne City and Sydney FC lock horns on Saturday night. City are in desperate need of a victory after picking up just one win in their last five games, which has seen them fall out of the top six. Despite not getting to play in Round 10 due to a postponed match Sydney FC still sit second with 18 points and have been one of the competition’s most consistent performers, combining a sturdy defence with efficient forward play that makes them formidable across the park.
The Sky Blues have conceded just seven goals this season, the equal second fewest in the competition, whilst also scoring 15 goals, the third most in the A-League. They also rank top five in the A-League for possession, highlighting their consistency in all three phases of the game. Melbourne City have struggled for consistency in their form slump over their past five games, and their home venue hasn’t been a happy hunting ground. Melbourne City have a 1-1-2 record at AAMI Park this season, the second worst home record in the A-League. Their last three games have all been at home, which has seen them suffer two losses and one draw.
Because of their postponed match, Sydney FC come into this game fresh, which is a rarity given the condensed fixture of the Christmas and new year period. Sydney FC haven’t played since the 20th of December, meanwhile City have played three games in that timespan. Sydney FC are well placed to knock off an out of form Melbourne City side, and will continue the form that has seen them as one of the best sides in the competition this season.
Sydney FC to Win
$3.20 (1.5 Units)
