A-League Tips and Predictions - Week 3

We started last week hitting the Melbourne City overs - goals tip, as they comfortably accounted for a sluggish Brisbane Roar 0-2, and nearly made it 2/2 for the tips with a Central Coast away win, but they conceded a late own-goal Wellington Phoenix to make it 2-2 on the day.

Elsewhere in the A-League we saw West Sydney Wanderers emerge as league frontrunners with another hard-fought 0-1 away win to Melbourne Victory, while one of the highlights of the round was Newcastle Jets finding a dramatic injury-time goal to win 2-1, despite being a man down against Perth Glory.

Last years title winners Western United succumbed to Sydney FC 1-3, to make it two losses in a row to start their title defence. But they’ll have another opportunity at home on Friday to get some points on the board.

Western United vs Macarthur FC

The competitions two newest teams will face off in the Friday night feature game.

One player likely to be amongst the action is Daniel Arzani for Macarthur FC.

Despite missing the better part of four years of football through injury, Arzani is looking to make up for lost time and re-discover his spark that once saw him the great beacon of hope of the national side.

Returning to the A-League at the still young age of 23 with high hopes and high expectations, he was slated by his own manager Dwight Yorke for his round 1 performance.

But on the weekend he was the difference as he scored the first goal, set up the second with a mazy run down the left-hand side, and nearly had a second goal when his free kick smashed off the crossbar.

A gifted player who loves to run directly at and take on defenders, he’s a high impact player who has an inherent skill-set that few other Australian players have.

Some have dared to mention he could make an unlikely return to the World Cup squad next month, so with this extra incentive there could be extra spring in Arzani’s step.

Betting Prediction - Daniel Arzani anytime goalscorer @ 4.40

Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne City

The first of the derby games for the A-League season promises to be a cracker.

A crowd as high as 30,000 has been touted which would make it one of the highest attended regular-season game for years.

Melbourne City have had two pretty comfortable wins to date, but they will have to lift to the occasion here.

Melbourne Victory will look to amend a disappointing home loss, where question marks are now being raised about their ability to break down well organised defensive units.

Melbourne Victory have had the better of recent head-to-head clashes so we'll see pretty even odds for this clash.

Such is the occasion of these big games, it could be a while for teams to settle into any rhythm for the match.

I can see the game opening up a lot more in the second half, especially with a Tony Popovic-lead Melbourne Victory side who will look to stifle City’s potent attacking threat early on.

Betting Prediction - Highest Scoring Half 2nd Half @ 2.00