A-League betting and bookie free bets for Sydney FC vs. Brisbane

IF there is one A-League game to clear your schedule for this weekend, this one is it.

Is Sydney FC finally ripe for the picking?

Sitting at the top of the table with six straight wins to start the season, the Sky Blues have been absolutely flying.

Hardly troubled in five of their first six matches, they staved off a mighty challenge from the Melbourne Victory a fortnight ago – with plenty of luck going their way – before whacking Perth Glory, 4-1.

But now they head north to Brisbane, where the third-placed Roar await.

The Roar have been quietly building the third best record in the competition and, while they have slipped up with a pair of losses away from home, they have claimed two wins and a draw on their familiar deck.

While a mass exodus and injury woes have Adelaide United stuck on the bottom of the ladder without a win, a plucky home performance forced the Roar to settle for a 1-1 draw on the weekend.

With Jamie McLaren on Socceroos duty, former Aussie gun Brett Holman started up front and he did not disappoint, putting the Roar ahead in the 60th minute with a long range strike that took a deflection on its way into the United net.

But the Roar defence could not hold firm, allowing Sergi Guardiola to equalise 18 minutes later with a headed finish that, on reflection, might have been better dealt with by Roar keeper Michael Theo.

As we mentioned, the Sky Blues had some serious first half dramas on the weekend that could have had them down 3-0 and cooked the game.

But Melbourne Victory let them off the hook with a pair of “how did they miss that” moments and a remarkably bad spot kick from star striker Besart Berisha that sailed over the cross bar.

Victory did eventually go ahead, thanks to Mitch Austin, but it was short lived, with super sub David Carney scoring twice to keep the unbeaten record in tact.

They followed that scare up by bringing the hammer down on the Glory, rolling to a 4-1 win on the back of goals to Milos Ninkovic, Bobo, Ninkovic again and Alex Brosque. They were that keen on scoring, they even put one in their own net.

First goal scorer predictions

Brisbane Roar

Jamie MacLaren ($6 with Sportsbet.com.au)

One of the best in the business. MacLaren started for the Socceroos in their horrid effort against Thailand earlier in the week, so you best watch the selected sides before you lay this bet. But we are pretty confident MacLaren will play in such an important clash for the Roar. If he does, he will be the man the Sky Blues’ defensive unit pays closest attention too. If he gets of the leash, expect him to get on the sheet – and potentially more than once.

Dimitri Petratos ($15 with Sportsbet.com.au)

The forgotten man. Petratos was a key figure for the Roar last season, bagging seven goals for the club, but has had a slow start to season 2016-17, thanks to an ankle injury that kept him out of the first four games. He has been in the squad for the past two tilts, starting one and coming off the bench in the other and, while he has looked rusty, he will be better for the run and this could be the game he breaks back into the limelight.

Sydney FC

Alex Brosque ($9 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Has been scoring for fun in 2016. Stoic, strong and one of the best midfielders in the game, Brosque is the talisman for a side that has not yet dropped a point in 2016. He scored five goals all last season – he already has four from his first six games – and he has only started three of those. They are dynamite figures and, at $9, he certainly provides some value.

Milos Ninkovic ($13 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Speaking of providing value, this bloke is a gun. For all the hype around marquee signings, this guy might just be the most important player for the Sky Blues. Criminally under rated, Ninkovic also has slotted four goals from his six matches, including a pair on the weekend, joining Brosque in that company. Brosque and Ninkovic are equal second on the A-League golden boot race behind star Melbourne City striker Bruno Fornaroli. Both will be hunting goals to keep themselves in the hunt.

Match predictions

Match result: Draw ($3.60 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Correct match score: Draw 1-1 ($7 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Total match goals: Under 2.5 ($2.18 with sportsbet.com.au)

This is shaping up as a fantastic contest between two teams packed with talent. Make no mistake, we would be on the Sky Blues’ bandwagon if this game was being played in Sydney. But it is not and that tilts the scales back to the Roar. While we feel Sydney is probably the better team, cracks did begin to appear last time out and we wonder just how long the unblemished run can continue. We think it ends at six, with the Roar primed to inflict some minor damage on their title tilt. There’s no doubt either side can win this one, but we think the promise of a pair of high powered attacks will steel the more than capable defences and reduce this one to a closely fought 1-1 stalemate.