Adelaide United vs Sydney FC
FreeWe’re always looking for new recruits to help us so please click here if you want to find out more about the ways you can help us (e.g. local input, watching games)!
Our personal betting tips service continues to make profit so click here if you are interested in a free trial!
There are 2 bankers and 7 value tips in the Members Section today so feel free to sign up here to see them + team news!
Today’s free tip is in the A-League encounter between Adelaide United and Sydney FC.
The last time these two teams met, The Reds gave the reigning champions a good game. Sydney FC still found a way to win it 1-0 because that’s what champions do, but it’s safe to say that Adelaide United had more than enough chances to at least get a draw from the encounter. That’s the difference between the two teams though – Sydney FC are natural winners.
Still, if there’s one man trying to change that, it’s German boss Kurz. Since taking over as manager of Adelaide United, I’ve been really impressed with their efficiency. They’ve alternated between a fast and free-flowing attacking team and a team that keeps the ball and frustrates their opponents well via their midfield and general organisation. They’ve got areas to work on (e.g. they do need better defenders, and they definitely need a better striker to lead their line) but I think Kurz has done a marvellous job with what he’s got. He’s really managed to get the best out of players like Mileusnic and Blackwood, which speaks volumes about his capability.
For today’s game, Kurz has managed to recover Danish star Absalonsen, who has been at the heart of everything productive Adelaide United have done this season. He’s their most intelligent player by far, and he’s still got one hell of a lethal shot on him. His presence will make Sydney FC wary, and rightly so. It gives Adelaide United a fighting chance of actually beating Sydney FC in my view, although I am not nearly bold enough to back such happening with Izzo, Garuccio, and Blackwood all absent today. I trust Kurz and his style though. I think he’ll make this game very hard for Sydney FC and what comes from such an approach remains to be seen.
Although the A-League is not over yet (don’t forget that you can’t win it by simply finishing top of the table either – there are play-offs to go through) the reality is that Sydney FC will finish at the top of the pile. They’ve given themselves a nice cushion which means they don’t have to go for the win in games of this nature. I don’t think Arnold is going to take unnecessary risks by engaging Adelaide United here. Sydney FC may have the better squad but that only shows when it comes to organisation and efficiency. If forced into an open game, I believe that Sydney FC would not beat Adelaide United. It’s entirely logical for Arnold to maintain Sydney FC’s cautious approach when taking on The Reds.
Furthermore, you have to bear in mind that The Sky Blues will generally hold onto any lead that they have. The A-League is a crazy league, known for high-scoring games and bad defending, but Sydney FC are the exception to the rule. They fight hard, defend well, and are ruthless in front of goal. They’ve got two classy match-winners in Mierzejewski and Ninkovic, and a lethal poacher in Bobo too. Teams find it very hard to get past them (unless they decide to not show up, which has happened once or twice this season at most) and Adelaide United are not an exception. For all of Kurz’s wily ways, he doesn’t really have enough quality to get around Sydney FC so I believe that Arnold’s boys will play this game even more cautiously than usual, knowing that they’ve got a better chance of winning the match if it comes to both teams having limited shots on goal.
Unless Sydney FC bizarrely push for a win that they don’t need, I suspect that this game will go under 2.5 goals, particularly as either team taking the lead will see them drop back and sit on it.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 19/20.
Sunday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Australian A-League:
Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City
Adelaide United vs Sydney FC
English Premier League:
Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Liverpool vs Manchester City
French Ligue 1:
AS Saint-Etienne vs Toulouse
Olympique Lyonnais vs Angers SCO
Nantes Atlantique vs Paris Saint-Germain
German Bundesliga:
Koln vs Borussia Moenchengladbach
Bv09 Borussia Dortmund vs VfL Wolfsburg
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Hapoel Ashkelon vs Hapoel Ra’anana
Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs Hapoel Haifa
Portuguese Liga 1:
Tondela vs Feirense
Boavista vs Portimonense
Belenenses vs Rio Ave
Sporting Clube de Portugal vs Desportivo Aves
Portuguese Liga 2:
Gil Vicente vs FC Porto II
Penafiel vs CD Nacional de Madeira
Arouca vs Famalicao
Vitoria Guimaraes II vs Varzim
Leixoes Matosinhos vs Real
Uniao Madeira vs Sporting Braga II
Santa Clara vs Cova Piedade
Spanish Primera Liga:
Levante vs Celta de Vigo
Deportivo Alaves vs Sevilla CF
RCD Espanyol vs Athletic Club de Bilbao
Real Sociedad vs Barcelona CF
Enjoy your free betting tips!