Competition: A-League
Market: Western United win
Odds: 19/20 @ BetUS
Hoping to extend their stay in the play-off places, Western United will welcome Brisbane Roar to Ironbark Fields on Sunday morning.
Starting with the hosts, while Western United might have opened December with a 3-1 loss at the hands of local rivals Melbourne Victory, John Aloisi’s men have come roaring back. With their sights firmly set on pinching a play-off spot this season, the one-time Portsmouth striker will be smelling a golden opportunity here. Putting in what was a sensational performance last time out as they stormed their way to a 4-0 romp away at Auckland, the Tarneit-based outfit will be hoping for a repeat display here. Springing a real upset earlier in the month as they secured a pulsating 4-3 victory against Australian giants Sydney, Western United have won back-to-back A-League showdowns by an aggregate score of 8-3. Enjoying what has become their brightest flurry of the new campaign, Sunday’s hosts have also put seven points on the board from their previous three outings. Signing off November with a 3-1 win against Perth, Aloisi’s side have also found a major clinical edge in the final third.
As for the visitors, putting in another toothless performance last week as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at home against Perth, Brisbane are enduring a major A-League crisis. Sat rock-bottom of the table and coming under a huge amount of scrutiny, Ruben Zadkovich’s men have also broken plenty of unwanted records since opening up the new campaign. Remarkably putting just two points on the board from any of their first eight appearances, Sunday’s guests are pencilled in as a landslide favourite to claim Australia’s wooden spoon in 2025. Getting proceedings underway by losing each of their first four A-League showdowns by an aggregate score of 10-4, it is no secret that Brisbane have gained a reputation for their glaring defensive struggles. It should be noted, the former Perth boss has seen his struggling squad already concede 21 goals so far this season. Given what has been a huge recent gulf in class between Sunday’s opponents, we are backing a home victory this weekend.
Bet: Western United 19/20 to beat Brisbane Roar in Sunday’s A-League matchup @ BetUS
