Sydney vs Western Sydney Wanderers Prediction: Pressure on Pantazopoulos after social media derby dig

After losing the first Sydney derby of the season 1-0 at CommBank Stadium in November, Sydney FC will be looking to wreak revenge in the return fixture at Allianz Stadium this Saturday (08:35 GMT, TNT Sports 3). The Sky Blues are seven points ahead of their bitter rivals in the Australian A-League Men's, but Ufuk Talay's side have lost their last two games without scoring, while Western Sydney Wanderers have won two of their last three.

Below are my Sydney vs Western Sydney Wanderers predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Sydney are boosted by the return of talisman Joe Lolley, who has missed the Sky Blues’ last five games with a hamstring injury.

Gus Hoefsloot (wrist), Al Hassan Toure (calf), Ben Garuccio (hamstring) and Abel Walatee (groin) are sidelined, though, while Talay will have to make a change in midfield as Rhys Youlley is serving a two-game ban for the red card he received in Monday’s Big Blue defeat at Melbourne Victory (4-0).

Football Odds

Western Sydney Wanderers are one in, one out with strikers, with Alou Kuol back fit just as mid-season signing Hiroshi Ibusuki (unspecified) has been ruled out.

Gary van Egmond, who oversaw a 1-0 victory over Perth Glory last weekend in his first game in charge following Alen Stajcic’s dismissal, has named Jai Rose in his extended squad, too.

Ryan Fraser could make his full debut after scoring his side's winner off the bench against Perth.

Sydney vs Western Sydney Wanderers Odds

Sydney, who failed to win either of last year's derbies (D1, L1), are 7/5 favourites on Saturday, implying a 41.7% probability of success, while Western Sydney Wanderers are 8/5, or a 38.5% chance, to do the double over their rivals, with the draw offered at 23/10.

Booking Points Over/Under +52.5 - Over 52.5 @ 13/8

This was a winning selection in November's derby as six yellow cards - five to the Wanderers, one to the Sky Blues - were issued at CommBank Stadium, amounting to 60 booking points (10 for each yellow).

There were 95 booking points awarded in Sydney's 2-1 win at CommBank Stadium in October 2024, too, so this bet has landed in two of the last four head-to-heads.

Today's Football Fixtures

With Sydney hurting after back-to-back defeats and desperate to right the wrongs of November's loss to the Wanderers, the Sky Blues should be right up for this one.

So too should the visitors, who start the weekend 11th in the 12-team table.

As if the fixture needed any added spice, the Wanderers released a video on social media earlier this week featuring their defender, Anthony Pantazopoulos, mocking Sydney's supporters and their players' performance in the last derby.

After seeing that, I'd be surprised if we don't see things get tasty at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Sydney's last two games have ended with 60+ booking points, too.

Player to Receive a Card - Anthony Pantazopoulos (WSW) @ 23/10

Given his comments this week, this looks like an obvious play, as there will be no one more fired up to ensure he isn't on the losing side.

Pantazopoulos has never held back in his hatred for the 'other side', and one of his four yellow cards this season came in November's reverse fixture for a foul on Sydney goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares.

The 22-year-old has been a regular in the referees' notebook over the last season and a half, picking up six yellows in 23 appearances last term, too, while his card-per-game average against Sydney is 0.5, as he was cautioned for his previous club, Oakleigh Cannons, in a 2-1 Australia Cup victory over the Sky Blues in August 2022.

Nick Ware P/L 25/26 ALM Season (After GW14)

 P/L: +3.9%