Wellington Phoenix Adelaide United Prediction

Wellington Phoenix will play host to Adelaide United for another instalment of the Australian A-League. Currently battling at the bottom end of the table, Wellington Phoenix have struggled for results in their last few matches and are in dire need of turning this around. In complete contrast, their opponents for this match have had a phenomenal season so far. Sitting two points off top of the table, Adelaide United have proven they are a force to be reckoned with as this season progresses.

Key Stats

• Adelaide United have only lost one of their last five games, while Wellington come into this game with only one win from their last five
• Adelaide United are ranked second in away wins this season
• Wellington Phoenix’s Kosta Barbarouses is currently third in the race for the golden boot with six goals this season

Team Previews, Form and Standout Players

Phoenix manager Giancarlo Italiano will be scratching his head at the team he has seen so far this season. After taking the side to a second-place finish last season, they currently sit tenth with only four wins from ten games. Becoming the youngest player in Wellington history to feature in a match, 2008 born Luke Brooke-Smith was turning heads and secured himself a three-year contract with the club but with zero goal contributions after his first three games, he will be hoping for a change of form.

Their opponents for this game on the other hand have enjoyed a brilliant run in their campaign so far this season. With only one defeat in ten games, coach Carl Veart has really bounced his team back from last seasons blunder which saw them finish eighth in the table. Winger Zak Clough as been paramount for the side this season, collecting four goals and five assists from ten games.

Wellington Phoenix Preview

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Predicted Line-Up: Oluwayemi; Sutton, Wootton, Sheridan, Payne; Rufer; Brooke-Smith, Nagasawa, Retre, Ishige; Barbarouses

With four defeats from their last five games, the Nixs are in dire need of a change of performance. Good news for Italiano as captain Alex Rufer is fit and ready to come back after being absent through illness, forcing to watch his suffer defeat to Melbourne United in their last game. Kosta Barbarouses can return to being a solo striker, where he has excelled so far this season. Netting six goals for Wellington in ten games, the New Zealand forward will be looking to redeem himself after a poor performance in his last game.

Adelaide United Preview

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Line-Up: Delianov; Kitto, Kikianis, Vriends, Pierias; Alagich, Barnett; Goodwin, Mauk, Clough; Jovanovic

It has been a tremendous bounce back season for Adelaide United. Suffering their worst league finish since 2017, they currently sit third in the table and are in striking distance of top of the table. Down the wings have been where the Reds have shone this season, with Zak Clough picking up nine goal contributions and Archie Goodwin netting five goals and cementing himself as the club's top goal scorer.

Only tasting defeat one so far in their league campaign this season, can Adelaide keep their winning ways going in a game where they should dominate.

Head to Head Stats

The last time these two sides met, it was Wellington Phoenix who emerged the victors. A tight battle ending in a 3-2 win for the Nixs. Striker Luka Jovanovic was one of the bags men in their win, and after picking up a 90th minute winner off the bench in Adelaides last game, Carl Veart will be looking for more of the same from his forward.

Betting Tips

Although Wellington have conceded less goals than their opponents coming into this game, Adelaide have won all their games away from home this season and have displayed complete dominance throughout.

For this reason, our betting experts suggest Adelaide to Win is the best value tip for this game. With odds of 107/100, a bet of £10 could see a potential return of up to £20.69

Final Prediction: Wellington Phoenix vs Adelaide United

Wellington Phoenix 1-2 Adelaide United