Adelaide United Vs Melbourne Victory
Friday 17th January 2020 – 08:30 Kick-Off
Australian A-League
Pick: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds displayed in this article were correct at time of writing: 14th January 2020 at 15:45)
Action in Australia’s A-League begins early on Friday. Adelaide United are seeking to banish a miserable losing run when they entertain Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium. It is a game which can be viewed live on BT Sports.
Table of Contents
Adelaide United Preview – Just how do Adelaide shake off losing habit?
Defeat to Perth Glory at their HBF Park last Saturday marked the fourth consecutive A-League reverse for coach Gertjan Verbeek and his Adelaide (7th – W5 D0 L7, GF19 GA21) side, who have subsequently dropped out of the play-off positions. Level on points with their upcoming opponents, The Reds can at least make up some vital lost ground on Friday with a positive result, in a fixture that has certainly proved favourable to them in recent times.
On each of the previous three occasions they have hosted Melbourne Victory inside their Coopers Stadium, Adelaide have found a way to win. Which includes a 3-1 scoreline earned earlier in the season when midfielder Riley McGee struck in both halves back in November. That was one of three home victories during this season’s A-League, with their record in said matches an even W3 L3 with no draws.
In fact, Adelaide remain the only A-League club still to feature in a drawn encounter thus far. Although such an outcome wouldn’t necessarily be a negative at this moment in time considering their current barren patch. One aspect that has remained consistent, however, is goals, with ten of their twelve league fixtures returning both teams to score as well as over 2.5 goals – a statistic which also applies to five of their six staged at home.
Melbourne Victory Preview – Poor away record dampens any Victory appeal?
Prior to last week’s demoralising loss on the road at Central Coast, where they twice took the lead only to undo this hard work by conceding two separate penalties during a lengthy period of second-half stoppage-time to lose 3-2, Melbourne Victory (6th – W4 D3 L6, GF17 GA18) were enjoying something of a purple patch. To compound matters, coach Marco Kurz was dismissed towards the end and will now serve a one-match touchline suspension.
Although absent in the dugout, Victory manager Kurz must ensure his team are not unduly affected by last week’s setback. The manner of the loss would have been especially hard to stomach. The omens are decidedly mixed, though, as even though his Melbourne team were previously unbeaten in three A-League games after claiming seven points from a possible nine, their away form – both in the league this season and in recent editions of this fixture – leave much to be desired.
Six road encounters in 2019/20 have so far garnered only two victories – at Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City – and four losses, giving them a rather grim away record of W2 L4. Meanwhile, five of said matches produced at least three match goals along with both teams on the scoresheet, suggesting there could be a fair few goals in store on Friday as Melbourne Victory go in search of a first away win against Adelaide United since 2017 (D1 L3 since).
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Betting Summary
There isn’t a huge amount to split these two teams, with the pair side-by-side in the A-League table on 15 points. Hosts Adelaide have played a game less, however, while their record at home in this particular match-up is encouraging having won all three previous home meetings with Melbourne Victory, whose record on the road this season (W2 L4) is slightly worse than their opponents home record of W3 L3.
Adelaide United Vs Melbourne Victory – Key Facts:
- Adelaide are currently enduring a dismal run of four straight A-League defeats.
- Melbourne Victory lost for the first time in four league games last time out (W2 D1 L1).
- Each of the previous three A-League meetings were staged at and won by Adelaide, who were 3-1 victors back in November.
Adelaide would receive the tentative vote if we had to choose. The Reds have fared slightly better at home this season and are on a three-match winning run at home to Melbourne Victory.
Instead, everything points in the direction of there being goals. Adelaide have seen five of their six home encounters deliver both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals, with Melbourne Victory mirroring this in five of their six away encounters. Furthermore, both teams can boast 100% strike rates when it comes to scoring in their respective home and away contests this season.
Best Betting odds for Adelaide United Vs Melbourne Victory:
Adelaide United – 21/20 BetVictor
Draw – 11/4 Boylesports
Melbourne Victory – 13/5 Betfair
