A-League Betting: Back Sydney FC to maintain record-breaking season with win over Melbourne City
Recommended bet: Sydney FC to Win @ 3/4 (1.75) with Sportsbet
The A-League game of the week sees Sydney FC playing host to Melbourne City at the Allianz Stadium, with Graham Arnold’s team a remarkable 14 points clear at the top of the table and an astonishing 23 points ahead of 3rd placed City.
Having been officially crowned as A-League Premiers’ Plate winners last week, the target now for the Sky Blues is to push on and break Brisbane Roar’s record for a 30-match campaign of 65 points.
With 59 points in the bag, Sydney have already set a record for a 27-match campaign in what has been a truly historic season whatever may happen in the Finals Series. Coach Arnold will certainly be determined that his team doesn’t lose momentum prior to going into those play-offs.
City’s faint hopes of securing 2nd spot in the table behind Sydney and direct qualification for the Finals Series semi-finals were all but ended with a 3-1 loss away to Western Sydney Wanderers last week, where they also threw away an early lead.
City’s place in the Elimination Finals is already assured, so it leaves them now looking to ensure they secure a top four finish to give them home advantage for that initial play-off round.
With a four-point cushion and a superior goal difference over Perth Glory with just three rounds of matches remaining, that really shouldn’t be beyond them.
These teams have met three times already this season, with one of those games coming in the FFA Cup. We’ve had a win apiece and a draw to date, with City winning the cup tie 1-0 in late November, followed by a 1-1 draw in the league at the ANZ Stadium 10 days later, before the Sky Blues won 3-1 at Melbourne’s AAMI Park just over a month ago. Both of the league games also saw the respective home team reduced to 10 men.
The greater incentive, current form and home advantage would all seem to point to a home win in this game and at best odds of 3/4 (1.75), Sydney FC look worth backing to add another three points to their already hugely impressive tally.
