Sydney FC
- Sydney FC have won 2 of their last 5 A-League fixtures, drawn two (both 0-0) and lost one.
- Sydney are 2nd on 22 points from 11 games with Wellington down in 10th after taking 15 points from 12 assignments so far.
- The Sky Blues drew their two games prior to the international break, but then thumped Macarthur FC 3-0 away last time out.
- Ufuk Talay likes to play on the front foot with a high-tempo, pressing game that looks to win the ball back quickly and create chances wide where Sydney have a lot of talent.
Wellington Phoenix FC
- Wellington Phoenix FC have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 5 A-League games.
- The visitors bounced back from a 5-1 away loss to Melbourne Victory by beating Brisbane Roar 3-0 away and then drawing 2-2 at home to Adelaide United.
- Giancarlo Italiano’s side are more of a possession-based side with a more flexible system that encourages the players to play patient football.
Head-to-Head
Wellington have failed to win their last two visits to Sydney, so the odds-on favorite Sydney FC look like the best value bet at 1.45 with Wellington a long shot at 6.5 .
Key Players
- Alhassan Toure is top scorer for Sydney with four A-League goals from ten appearances and can be a reliable option for a goal on Sunday.
- Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Eze leads the way for Wellington with five goals from 12 A-League outings and will look to pounce on any turnovers and play vertical passes for his team.
Betting Insights
Talay’s tweaks at Sydney have made them a formidable team to break down at home with their pressing system and the fact that the hosts haven’t shipped a goal in three home games this season makes the Under 2.5 goals market look like the place to be at 2.4 .
Prediction
- Talay’s history at Wellington Phoenix adds an extra dimension to this matchup and this could be a chess match between the pair.
- However, with home advantage, Sydney’s momentum and the way this game is shaping up, we’ll side with the home side to edge a game of tactics.
