Wellington Phoenix vs Adelaide United Prediction: Reds to flounder again in front of Yellow Fever

Two wins from their last three games has improved the mood at Wellington Phoenix, who can overtake Adelaide United in the Australian A-League Men's table with a victory over the Reds at Sky Stadium on Sunday (02:00 GMT, TNT Sports 2).

Below are my Wellington Phoenix vs Adelaide United predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Hideki Ishige (ACL), Luke Supyk, Dan Edwards, Jayden Smith and Nathan Walker (all unspecified) are injured for Wellington Phoenix, who will be without the suspended Carlo Armiento following his red card in last Saturday's 3-0 win at Brisbane Roar.

However, Giancarlo Italiano is boosted by the returns from injury of Joshua Oluwayemi, Tim Payne and Nikola Mileusnic.

Football Odds

Bart Vriends is back for Adelaide United and is expected to go straight back into their back line following last Sunday's 4-0 home defeat to Central Coast Mariners, but Dylan Pierias (knee) is sidelined, while Ethan Alagich, Luka Jovanovic and Yaya Dukuly are all on international duty with Australia at the 2026 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Harry Crawford, meanwhile, has been omitted from the squad despite starting last weekend's game.

Wellington Phoenix vs Adelaide United Odds

Wellington Phoenix are 6/5 favourites to inflict a second defeat of the season upon Adelaide United, who are 7/4, or a 36.4% chance, to get back on track following last week's embarrassment against the Mariners.

The draw is priced at 5/2, both teams to score at 1/2, and over 2.5 total goals at 4/7.

Match Result - Wellington Phoenix @ 6/5

Considering Adelaide were blown apart 4-0 at home by the Mariners, who were on a six-game winless run, losing their last four, heading into the match, I don't hold much hope for the Reds on Sunday at Sky Stadium, where they were beaten 2-1 on November 29. Airton Andrioli's side managed to record just 10 shots and only two on target, while the Nix hit the target with 10 of their 18 efforts.

Adelaide triumphed 2-1 at Sky Stadium in January last year, but they've suffered defeat in three of their last four trips to the venue, and before beating Perth Glory 1-0 at HBF Park in their final away game of 2025 on December 20, they hadn't won on their travels since that January 11 victory over Wellington, losing their first four away matches in the league this season, all by a 2-1 scoreline.

Today's Football Fixtures

The Nix, meanwhile, have won two of their last three games, beating Central Coast Mariners 3-1 at home on December 21 and Brisbane Roar 3-0 at Suncorp Stadium last Saturday, either side of a 5-1 hammering at Melbourne Victory's AAMI Park. Victory, though, are the most in-form side in the division, winning their last four matches.

Three of Adelaide's starting four-man defence last week were teenagers, and with several key players still away on international duty, it's difficult to see past a home win in Wellington.

Anytime Goalscorer - Ifeanyi Eze (WEL) @ 13/10

Wellington striker Ifeanyi Eze, who joined the club in the off-season from Iraqi outfit Al-Karkh SC, opened the scoring in the sixth minute of last week's win against Brisbane to take his ALM tally to five goals and move joint-top of the Golden Boot charts.

The 26-year-old has spread his strikes out, scoring in five separate matches, and he will fancy his chances of making it six on Sunday against Adelaide, who have shipped six goals across their last two games.

CCM's starting front four all got on the scoresheet at Coopers Stadium last Sunday, including striker Sabit James Ngor, so Eze will be confident that chances will come his way this weekend.

Nick Ware P/L 25/26 ALM Season (After GW11)

 P/L: +10.5%