Melbourne Victory worth a punt on the Asian Handicap at Sydney FC

Recommended bet: Melbourne Victory +0.5 @ Asian Handicap at 1/1 (2.00) with bet365

Having underperformed last season, Sydney FC look to be in the mood to make up for it this term and have started the new campaign in superb form, with four straight wins during which they have scored 11 goals and are yet to concede.

It’s worth remembering that the Sky Blues also started last season in fine form, topping the table early on and collecting 11 points from their opening five matches.  They then fell away badly to eventually finish seventh in the regular season and miss out on the play-offs.  Everyone associated with the club will be hoping that this isn’t another false dawn.

Melbourne Victory are third in the table on goal difference going into the weekend’s fixtures. Even so, they are already five points adrift of the leaders and won’t want to fall further behind if they are to be genuine contenders for the Premiers.

A Besart Berisha hat-trick (including two penalties in a couple of minutes before the midway point of the first-half) and a double from Marco Rojas helped the Big V to a comprehensive 6-1 win over Wellington Phoenix on Monday.

The margin of Monday’s win means that Victory are now second top scorers in the A-League this term, with just one less than Sydney from their four matches.  If anyone is going to break Sydney’s run of consecutive clean sheets, then the Big V look as capable as anyone of doing so.

There’s clearly a big interstate rivalry between the two clubs which adds to the edge in this clash and the recent head-to-head record very much favours Melbourne Victory, with Sydney not having beaten them in any of the previous 10 meetings in all competitions.  Melbourne has come out on top in four of those matches, with six having been drawn.

Sydney FC’s 100% winning start to the season has to end at some point and Melbourne Victory look capable of coming away with a positive result.  The best option here could be to back the visitors on the Asian Handicap +0.5.  Such a bet would result in a win provided Melbourne Victory avoid defeat.