Adelaide vs. Melbourne City betting tips – A-League odds and info

Friday, March 11 from 7.30pm at Coopers Stadium, Adelaide – watch on Fox Sports, SBS2

A-LEAGUE leaders Adelaide United host fourth-placed Melbourne City on Friday night in a match that has the potential to define who ends the season as minor premiers.

The top-of-the-table Reds are the form team of the competition. United’s turnaround from cellar dwellers to premiership favourites ($3.40 at Sportsbet) has been nothing short of remarkable.

After losing the opening eight matches of the season, the Reds have gone undefeated to take the men from South Australia from last to first.

Adelaide’s latest victory was a blistering 4-0 win over the Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand last Saturday.

The news was not all rosy for the Reds, with full back Tarek Elrich limping off the pitch in the first half after sustaining a groin injury.

The Reds confirmed on Tuesday that the Socceroo defender will miss the next month of football.

Adelaide defensive midfielder Iacopo La Rocca said the Reds have the depth to alleviate the hole left by Elrich.

“It will not be easy (to cover him) because Tarek is a Socceroos player and is a big loss for us,” the Italian hardman said. “We don’t have a big squad but we do have the players that can do the job.

“Because we are top of the ladder it is normal that every player can step up and have more confidence.

“We just have to stick together and get the three points.”

Melbourne City’s form has been indifferent throughout 2016, but due to the incredibly-even nature of the season to date, they are within four points of top spot in fourth position.

After a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Phoenix, City bounced back with an emphatic 3-0 win over Sydney FC on Saturday night.

City striker Bruno Fornaroli again was the man for his side, this time scoring a wonderful hattrick to guide his side to an important win.

The Uruguayan’s hattrick took him five goals clear of the Victory’s Besart Berisha in the race for the A-League golden boot, making him the short priced favourite ($1.02 via Sportsbet) in the process.

The Adelaide United vs. Melbourne City match up has been an incredibly even contest in recent times.

Neither the Reds nor City have experienced back-to-back wins in this fixture since 2010.

The last seven match ups between the Reds and City has seen the sides take two wins each with three draws.

Match preview

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Winner: Adelaide United – $1.95

First goal scorer: Bruno Fornaroli – $6.50

Correct score: Adelaide United 2 Melbourne City 1 – $8.50

United have been in red-hot form, going undefeated since round eight.

A win on Friday has the potential to see them go four points clear at the top of the A-League tree.

Melbourne City’s form has been erratic, but last weekend’s 3-0 win over Sydney FC highlighted just how dangerous they can be when everything comes together.

City have arguably the two best attacking options in the league (Bruno Fornaroli and Aaron Mooy) and are a constant threat of slicing through any team’s defence if given half a chance.

It looms as the most important match of the season for both sides.

Despite all the attacking weapons they possess, City’s folly is their flimsy defence.

Aside from their clean sheet against the struggling Sydney FC, City have failed to keep their opponents from scoring in the last six match ups.

Conversely, Adelaide have kept their opponents scoreless in their last three matches.

Expect the Adelaide United train to roll on to another victory and en route to the minor premiership.

A-League specials and promotions for round 23

Adelaide United’s next loss special

Sportsbet have jumped on the Reds’ bandwagon with a special market dedicated to identifying when the next Adelaide United loss will be.

The undefeated market has shortened significantly (in from $10) and looks like it could be the best bet of the promotion given how dominant the Reds have been since round eight.

Melbourne City (Home) $3.35

Western Sydney Wanderers (Away) $3.80

Central Coast Mariners (Home) $16.00

Sydney FC (Away) $5.50

Melbourne City (Away) $7.50

Undefeated $5.00

Money back specials across round 22 in the A-League

William Hill are continuing to run their multi insurance across the 23rd weekend of A-League.

Place a four or more leg multi across the weekend, and if one leg fails, you get your cash back – up to $50.

Sportsbet are offering cash back up to $100 if your four or more leg multi bet on the A-league this weekend has only one leg that fails.

Sportsbet are the only online bookmaker offering a real cash bonus this weekend, so punters should take full advantage.