Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets

Melbourne City stumbled to a 2-1 loss against Adelaide United in the A-League midweek, losing for the second time in four games. Their title defence hasn’t gone completely to plan, with those losses leaving them a point behind Western United with a game more played. Newcastle Jets came away from another trip to Melbourne last weekend having pulled off a shock win over Melbourne Victory and will be keen to leave AAMI Park with another positive result.

Melbourne City come into this game with a rather middling home record with eight points gained from six games as hosts. They’ve scored nine goals in that period but conceded at the same rate as they struggle to put games to bed, especially at home. City have scored more than any other side this season though, scoring 23 times, and matches featuring the side have seen an average of 3.4 goals per game.

Newcastle Jets games are the only ones that have exceeded that total, with an average of 3.7 goals per game, and alll nine of the Jets games have beaten the 2.5 goal line. Recent wins over Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar have kept Newcastle in touch with the A-League top six and another win here could see them come within just one point of the sides currently in line to qualify for Finals Series football.

With so many goals in both of these sides, the 2.5 goal line looks as though it could be in danger of being beaten once again. The two sides played each other in recent weeks and Melbourne City ran out 4-2 winners and, whilst Newcastle will be hoping to reverse that result, it could be another tough game for the visitors. Goals certainly look as though they could be in order though and this could be a thrilling clash as a result.

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Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC

Wellington Phoenix enjoyed a dominant 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar in midweek, claiming their fourth win in five games and rising to fifth in the league. They are below their opponents this week, Sydney FC, on goal difference and this should be a close game between two evenly matched sides. Sydney have gone four games unbeaten but haven’t been their usual imperious selves this season.

Wellington Phoenix have the best home form in the league this season, winning 16 points from a possible 21 at WIN Stadium. Their recent run of form has seen them average two goals a game but the side have struggled a bit more defensively, keeping just two clean sheets in 11 games played.

Sydney FC have been able to keep in touch with the teams contesting for the Australian A-League title and with the side going four games unbeaten they sit just three points from the summit. Their away form has been good this season, with just one loss in five games and, when these sides met in December, Sydney ran out 2-1 winners. They have the same defensive woes as Wellington though, with just two clean sheets in 12 games.

Both teams have scored in Wellington matches 54% of the time this season, with the same being said for 66% of Sydney’s games. With both sides being in a rich game of form but being unable to keep clean sheets, the both teams to score market looks very appealing in this contest.

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Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners

Melbourne Victory have hit an awful run of form, failing to win in five games and losing their last three games. This has seen them drop to sixth place, holding on to the final playoff place on goal difference. Central Coast haven’t fared much better, failing to win in four games and falling to 10th position with the side really struggling defensively.

Melbourne Victory started the season really strongly, winning three of their first four games and sitting top of the league. They haven’t been able to keep that form going though and have struggled to stamp their authority on games in recent weeks. They have scored just seven goals in six games but have conceded nine times, highlighting their issues.

Central Coast have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, winning twice, drawing twice and losing twice in their last six games. This run has seen them score in each of those games, netting 11 times, but concede 10 goals, with Melbourne City, Macarthur and Sydney all putting three goals past them. Concerns are growing about the side defensively but they are showing some good resilience at the other end of the pitch.

Both of these sides are in poor runs of form but both scoring at a rate of more than a goal a game. This, coupled with the poor defensive records for both sides, makes the over 2.5 goal market look really appealing in a game that should have plenty of action in the final third.

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Macarthur v Adelaide United

Macarthur have seen their excellent form at the beginning of the season come crumbling in recent weeks with no wins in five for the Sydney side. They have fallen to sixth place in the league, just one point above Wellington in the race for Finals Series football. Adelaide are at the other end of the form table, having won 10 points from a possible 15 and have just one loss in their last six matches as they move to third overall.

Macarthur went five games unbeaten to start the season and were sat atop of the A-League at one point but their fall from grace sees them five points from the summit and clinging onto the final playoff spot by just a point. They have scored seven goals in their last four games, a decent return, but their defensive woes have really been brought to the fore with 11 goals conceded during the same period.

Adelaide United have been in fantastic form in recent weeks, winning four of their last six and scoring 14 times in those games. This form has seen them rise to third, just two points behind current leaders, Western United and they will be keen to continue their good record in this tie. Their away form, in particular, has been especially impressive with the side losing just one of their eight games on the road.

These two sides will both be hoping for the victory in this game but Adelaide are in such good form that the double chance price really appeals in this game. The side have a positive goal difference of 6 in their last six games, compared to the -6 goal difference that Macarthur have over the same period. The security of the double chance really boosts the confidence in Adelaide coming away from this game with a result.

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