A-League Week 20 Preview: Stats, Insights & Everything You Need To Know About Your Team’s Chances

With another big weekend of A-League action ahead we have everything you need to know about your team’s chances including stats, insights, did you know facts & everything else you need to know.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS VS BRISBANE ROAR – FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY, 7:50PM, CENTRAL COAST STADIUM

Mariners

Last 5 Matches: LLLLD
Ladder Position: 10^th 
Goal Difference: -24 (GF 19, GA 43)

Roar

Last 5 Matches: DDLWL
Ladder Position: 9^th 
Goal Difference: -20 (GF 23, GA 43)

It’s last hosting second last on the Central Coast to kick off Round 20 of the A-League. For these two teams the focus for their final eight matches is to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon.

Brisbane has never claimed that dubious honour and the Mariners are looking to avoid their second straight and third in the last four seasons.

These sides have played out 1-1 draws when they faced off in Round 1 and Round 14 and another result like that is certainly on the cards here.

Did You Know?

Mariners

Central Coast Mariners haven’t won a Hyundai A-League game against Brisbane Roar at Central Coast Stadium since March 2013; they’ve scored just three goals across their last six such fixtures.

Roar

Roar’s Henrique has scored seven goals against the Mariners in the Hyundai A-League. Only against Perth Glory has he scored more (eight).

Betting Insights

• Central Coast has lost four of its last six A-League night matches as a favourite.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in 11 of Brisbane’s last 12 A-League night matches as an underdog.
• The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Central Coast’s last six A-League home matches.

TIP: Roar

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WELLINGTON PHOENIX VS SYDNEY FC – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 5:35PM, CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM

Phoenix 

Last 5 Matches: LWLDD
Ladder Position: 6^th 
Goal Difference: 0 (GF 26, GA 26)

Sydney

Last 5 Matches: WLWLD
Ladder Position: 3^rd 
Goal Difference: +11 (GF 33, GA 22)

This looks like being one of the better matches of the round and just what the doctor ordered after what looks like being a snoozer between the Mariners and Roar first-up. The Phoenix look to have done enough to make this season’s final and they mustered another admirable performance and draw against the Victory at home last week.

Did You Know?

Phoenix

This will be the third Hyundai A-League game played at Campbelltown Stadium, though it will be the first fixture at the venue for either Wellington Phoenix or Sydney FC. Each of the previous two games were won by the hosts on the day.

Sydney

Sky Blues striker Adam Le Fondre has made 35 shots on target this Hyundai A-League season, eight more than any other player in the competition.

Betting Insights

• Sydney FC has won five of its last six A-League away matches following a draw.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Wellington’s last six A-League Week 20 night matches.
• The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in nine of Sydney FC’s last 10 A-League matches as an away favourite.

TIP: Sydney FC

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MELBOURNE VICTORY VS MELBOURNE CITY – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 7:50PM, MARVEL STADIUM

Victory

Last 5 Matches: DWWLD
Ladder Position: 2^nd 
Goal Difference: +17 (GF 41, GA 24)

City

Last 5 Matches: WLLDL
Ladder Position: 5^th 
Goal Difference: +1 (GF 23, GA 22)

At some point the Victory will have their full compliment of players fit and firing, but they are doing a good enough job weathering the storm.

Having picked up a tough point at Eden Park last Friday, their attention now turns to local rivals Melbourne City, who they have lost to and drawn with so far this season.

This has all been in spite of their key players suffering various absences through injury and suspension but if the early reports hold true, the Victory’s front line could be fit(-ish) and firing for this one. That does not bode well for a City side bereft of confidence but at least they do seem to be able to get themselves up for a game of this magnitude.

Did You Know?

Victory

Melbourne Victory have won four of their last seven Hyundai A-League games against Melbourne City (D1, L2); however, they are winless in their last two such fixtures (D1, L1).

City

Melbourne City have trailed 1-0 at half-time in each of their last four Hyundai A-League games. They’ve picked up just two competition points from their nine games this season when they’ve trailed at the break.

Betting Insights

• The underdog has won three of Melbourne City’s last four A-League matches at Marvel Stadium.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Melbourne City’s last eight A-League matches at Marvel Stadium.
• The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in 21 of Melbourne Victory’s last 24 A-League home matches.

TIP: Victory (Best Bet)

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NEWCASTLE JETS VS ADELAIDE UNITED – SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY, 5:00PM, MCDONALD JONES STADIUM

Jets

Last 5 Matches: WLWDW
Ladder Position: 7^th 
Goal Difference: -1 (GF 24, GA 25)

Adelaide

Last 5 Matches: DWWDL
Ladder Position: 4^th 
Goal Difference: +3 (GF 27, GA 24)

The Jets have started to recapture a bit of the form that delivered a Grand Final berth last season, but is it all too little, too late? No. there’s plenty of time for them to close the gap on the Phoenix, but they simply need to win matches like this one if they are any hope. The Reds suffered probably their most disappointing loss of the season to the Wanderers in Adelaide last weekend and this looms as a tougher prospect.

Did You Know?

Jets

Clashes at McDonald Jones Stadium average a total of 2.3 goals

Adelaide

Adelaide have a 63.2% record in the both teams to score market

Betting Insights

• Adelaide has won seven of its last eight A-League away matches following a loss.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in four of Adelaide’s last five A-League matches as a favourite.
• The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in seven of the last eight A-League matches between Newcastle and Adelaide.

TIP: Adelaide

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WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS VS PERTH GLORY – SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY, 7:00PM, SPOTLESS STADIUM

Wanderers

Last 5 Matches: LDLWW
Ladder Position: 8^th 
Goal Difference: -12 (GF 29, GA 41)

Glory

Last 5 Matches: DWWWW
Ladder Position: 1^st 
Goal Difference: +25 (GF 42, GA 17)

The Wanderers suddenly looked a lot stronger last week when they beat Adelaide in Adelaide but they face the best team in the competition in Perth Glory, fresh off a rampant 4-0 win themselves.

Perth won a wild encounter out west the last time these teams met with the Wanderers squandering 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the final 20 minutes. Add in a four game winning streak for the Glory and this game looks like it might just be another step closer to the Premiers Plate, even with the Wanderers starting to look better as of late.

Did You Know?

Wanderers

The Wanderers have conceded 13 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this Hyundai A-League campaign, more than any other team in the competition.

Glory

Perth Glory have lost only one of their last eight Hyundai A-League games against Western Sydney Wanderers (W3, D4), and will be looking to secure back-to-back league wins against them for the first time since April 2015.

Betting Insights

• Perth has won each of its last four A-League matches.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Western Sydney’s last nine A-League matches as an underdog.
• The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Western Sydney’s last eight A-League matches as an underdog.

TIP: Glory