The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 9 of the 2024/25 A-Leagues Mens season.

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Adelaide United vs Sydney FC Friday December 20, 7:35pm Hindmarsh Stadium

As the ‘Reds’ prepare to face off against the ‘Sky Blues’ at home they do so having won five of their last six games to date, including a last start 4-0 demolishing of the Central Coast on the Central Coast. With 58% possession of the ball, 6/19 shots on target and some finely worked strikes in the 12th, 49th, 60th and 73rd minutes the hosts never stood a chance against the much more determined visitors. With Adelaide also unbeaten in their last six straight home matches, Sydney face the humungous task of clawing anything away from Hindmarsh Stadium.

Ufuk Talay’s Men on the other hand have struggled massively recently seeing defeats in three of their last five affairs on the road, including their last two consecutive matches. Last time out at Allianz Stadium against Western United the hosts were beaten thoroughly 4-3 in what can only be described as an uninspired and frankly lazy defensive performance. Andrew Redmayne was woeful in goals, whilst the likes of Alexander Popovic and Jordan Courtney-Perkins did themselves no favours at the back either. A much more inspired performance will be needed in South Australia otherwise the on fire ‘Reds’ will give them a severe beating.

Betting tips: Back both teams to get on the scoresheet here at $1.42 (Betfair)

Also back Adelaide to score first at $1.79 (TopSport)

Finally you can also look for there to be 1+ goals in H1 and H2 at $1.37 (TopSport)

Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne City Saturday December 21, 7:35pm AAMI Park

The Melbourne Derby is never without it’s drama and this week it’s no different as just today Victory head coach Patrick Kisnorbo announced his immediate departure from the club in order to as rumours have it pick up a nice overseas job. The ex-City turned Victory head honcho led Melbourne to the Australia Cup final this season and had them playing a tough, gritty style of Football, which currently sees them sitting 3rd on the ladder with just four goals conceded through seven games. Arthur Diles will now lead the charge for the clash against their cashed-up rivals and potentially beyond, with the former Sydney Olympic technical director having been with the club for a bit over a year. His appointment at the very least means the Victory will still have some stability within the coaching ranks and that the players will still be competing for a familiar face which is very helpful.

Despite all this unwanted drama it shouldn’t effect the Victory all that much given that they’ve been triumphant in 10 of their last 13 games. Meanwhile for City they too have hit a rich vein of form lately, as they’ve won four of their last seven affairs and last round at AAMI Park inflicted on Auckland FC their first dropped points of the season in what was an incredibly thrilling, yet equally as tense 2-2 draw. Melbourne had seemingly won it only for a 90+5th minute curtailer via Neyder Moreno inflicting heartbreak upon the hosts. Whilst for the Victory, also at AAMI Park last round, comfortably disposed of the Glory 2-0. They owned 69% of the ball, shot 8/25 on target and kept their hapless opposition to just two shots the entire game. At least 20,000+ spectators at this Derby will be befitting given the show we’re about to witness.

Betting tips: Look for both teams to register one 1+ goals a piece at $1.64 (UniBet)

Also look for one of those goals to come via Nishan Velupillay at $2.95 (UniBet)

And pick the Victory to win the most corners at $1.66 (UniBet)

Macarthur FC vs Central Coast Mariners Monday December 23, 7:00pm Campbelltown Stadium

Dean Bosnjak the up and coming 18-year-old Forward bagged his first professional ‘Bulls’ goal last round and what a strike it was, as in the 75th minute of his sides clash versus the Phoenix in Wellington he conjured up a classy finish to help Macarthur dispose of the opposition 2-1. Meanwhile the Mariners were thrashed 4-0 by the ‘Reds’ at home in a performance that the less said about it the better. This means that in all competitions the Central Coast have won just two of their last 14 games. It’s been pretty woeful viewing for the back-to-back champions this season and things don’t appear to be getting better under the guidance of Mark Jackson. They just don’t have the caliber of players they used to have such as the Marco Tulio’s or Danny Vuckovic’s of the Footballing world and coming up against Macarthur in Campbelltown Stadium I don’t envision it getting much better for them.

Macarthur have produced 16 goals this season which is bettered only by Adelaide’s 17 for best in the A-League. Marin Jackals has four goals + three assists, whilst Valere Germain has four goals + one assist. Meanwhile Defender Tomislav Uskok has two goals on the campaign, his equal second best return for goals throughout his 11-season professional career. And then there’s 21-year-old Jed Drew who has four assists and two-years-his-elder Jake Hollman who has two assists. When they are syncing up together well that means that they are on fire and when they are on fire they are unbeatable. No one gave them a chance over in New Zealand and they caused utter chaos there despite only having 44% possession of the ball. And even prior to that despite struggling against Western United in Tarneit they still held them to zero goals, despite the hosts firing away 21 shots at their defence. Unless an unexpected result occurs here the Mariners are in for another shellacking.

Betting tips: Pick a ‘Bulls’ victory at $1.87 (UniBet)

You can also pick both teams to end up on the scoresheet at $1.59 (BoomBet)

Yet also look for the ‘Bulls’ to open the scoring first at $1.65 (TopSport)

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