Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United Prediction: Borrello to end barren run at CommBank Stadium

Ahead of round three this weekend, Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United are two of six Australian A-League Men's sides still searching for a first win of the season, albeit the latter only played their first match last week after being given a bye in round one.

Below you can find my Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds, as the clubs go head-to-head at the former's CommBank Stadium on Saturday (08:35, TNT Sports 1).

Team News

There are no changes to the Western Sydney Wanderers squad from last Sunday's 1-1 draw at Western United, where Brandon Borrello fired the visitors in front after 14 minutes. Borrello was supported in attack by legendary Spaniard Juan Mata, who will hope to earn back-to-back starts after getting over an hour in the tank at Ironbark Fields.

Bozhidar Kraev also made his first Wanderers start following his off-season arrival from Wellington Phoenix, and the Bulgarian should get the nod again on Saturday.

Marcus Antonsson, Aydan Hammond and Dylan Scicluna are all options for head coach Alen Stajcic if he decides to make changes to his starting XI to inspire a first win of the season.

Football Odds

Neither Jordan Elsey nor Luke Duzel have been named in Adelaide United's squad this weekend, but the Reds are boosted by the return to fitness of Panashe Madanha, who hasn't featured for the club since their 3-2 Australia Cup win at Olympic Kingsway on August 27.

Luke Jovanovic opened the scoring for Carl Veart's side in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Central Coast Mariners and the 19-year-old is set to lead the line again in Sydney, supported by Zach Clough.

Ben Folami made his Reds debut off the bench last Saturday and could be in contention to start at CommBank Stadium, while 38-year-old Spaniard Javi Lopez is another potential inclusion in Veart's starting XI.

Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Western Sydney Wanderers are 23/20 to get their first three points of the season on Saturday, giving the hosts an implied win probability of 46.5%, while Adelaide United are 9/5, or a 35.7% chance, to do the same.

The draw is priced at 5/2, both teams to score at 4/11, and over 2.5 total goals at 2/5.

Antonsson (7/5) heads the anytime goalscorer market, followed by teammate Borrello and Adelaide's Jovanovic (both 8/5).

Match Result & Both Teams to Score - Western Sydney Wanderers & Yes @ 11/5

After losing the Sydney derby 2-1 at home to Sydney FC on the opening weekend and drawing 1-1 away to Western United last time out, the Wanderers will be hoping to go one better this weekend by taking all three points against Adelaide.

They've already shown they can consistently find the net, scoring in both Australia Cup games before striking in back-to-back A-League matches, while they only blanked in five of their 27 league contests last season.

On paper, they have only boosted their attacking options with the arrivals of Mata and Kraev, while Borrello has already been injected with some early-season confidence after getting off the mark in Melbourne last weekend.

One goal may not be enough for the Wanderers to win the game on Saturday, however, as I believe that their opponents will score at least once in Sydney.

Adelaide scored in 77.8 per cent (21) of their A-League matches last season and found the net, via Jovanovic, in the first 10 minutes of their first league contest this term.

The Reds have also struck twice past the Wanderers already this term, beating their hosts this weekend 2-1 in the Australia Cup in September, where goals from Austin Ayoubi (Adelaide) and Nicolas Milanovic (WSW) sent the tie into extra-time at the ServiceFM Stadium. Ryan Kitto would prove to be the hero for Veart's side with the winner in the 93rd minute.

Both teams to score has been a winner in both of WSW's league matches so far, as well as in Adelaide's only outing, while five of the past six meetings between the two have seen at least one goal on either side.

It's the Wanderers who boast the superior record over that six-game run, winning three times - twice with both teams scoring.

The sides met twice in the A-League Men's last season, with WSW winning home (1-0) and away (1-2).

Saturday's hosts have the better squad, and much more experience across the forward line, which I think should see them to victory in this one.

Anytime Goalscorer - Brandon Borrello (WSW) @ 8/5

Adelaide-born Borrello enjoyed a terrific first season with the Wanderers, scoring 13 times in 27 A-League appearances after joining from German side Dynamo Dresden at the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign.

The 29-year-old's 2023/24 season was disjointed, however, as injury restricted him to just 15 A-League games, and he scored just once.

Borrello is expected to rediscover his goalscoring form this year, particularly with the creativity of Mata and Kraev now behind him, as well as Milanovic who assisted his strike last weekend.

At home, against a side that shipped 53 league goals last season - only Perth Glory (69), Western United and Brisbane Roar (both 55) posted a poorer defensive record - the 11-cap Australia international should be confident of at least doubling his tally this term as he seeks a first goal at CommBank Stadium in over a year.

I think 8/5 is worth taking on here, while 6/1 for Borrello to net first is also worthy of consideration after he opened the scoring against Western United at Ironbark Fields.

Offers

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