Auckland vs Adelaide United Prediction: ALM leaders to avoid defeat against nearest challengers

Australian A-League Men's leaders Auckland racked up a fourth consecutive victory last Saturday, thrashing New Zealand rivals Wellington Phoenix 6-1 at Go Media Stadium to move eight points clear of second-place Adelaide United, who lost 3-0 to Western United the following day.

The top two go head-to-head at Go Media Stadium this weekend with the Black Knights looking to extend their lead over the Reds. Below are my Auckland vs Adelaide United predictions, complete with all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of Saturday's 04:00 kick-off.

Team News

Daniel Hall has been out since mid-December with a broken ankle and the Fijian centre-back is still recovering from that injury.

The Black Knights are otherwise at full strength with Louis Verstraete returning from suspension as a substitute in last weekend's win against the Nix.

Football Odds

Adelaide United head coach Carl Veart has made one change to his squad from last weekend, with experienced midfielder Isaias pulling out of the squad with a hamstring injury. Young defender Sotiri Phillis has replaced the 38-year-old in the extended list.

Isaias joins Panasha Madanha (hamstring) and Javi Lopez (calf) in the Reds' treatment room while Luka Jovanovic, Fabian Talladira, Jonny Yull and Panagiotis Kikianis are all still on international duty.

Bailey O'Neil, meanwhile, is still in individual training.

Auckland vs Adelaide United Odds

Auckland have only dropped points twice at home this season, winning seven times at Go Media Stadium, and Steve Corica's side are 4/5 favourites on Saturday. Adelaide United won their first six away games but lost both on their travels in February and are 11/4, or a 26.7% chance, to claim all three points in New Zealand.

The two teams played out a 2-2 draw at Coopers Stadium in January and another stalemate can be backed at 13/5.

Double Chance & BTTS - Auckland or Draw & Yes @ 19/20

Auckland have lost just twice all season and only once on home soil, a 4-0 humbling by Western United on December 21. The Black Knights then drew 0-0 with Melbourne Victory at Go Media Stadium on New Year's Day and have won their last three games there, scoring 11 goals in that run.

Corica's side have kept five clean sheets at home this term but have conceded in four of their last six in Auckland and Adelaide have only been stopped from scoring once on their travels in 24/25.

Saturday's visitors are second in the ALM BTTS table with 76 per cent (13) of their 17 league contests this season seeing at least one goal on either side.

There were four goals equally shared at Coopers in January and I can see both teams getting on the scoresheet again this weekend.

But, in Auckland, it's hard to back against the Black Knights, so the double chance on the hosts and both teams to score looks the best bet at 19/20.

Anytime Goalscorer - Stefan Mauk (ADL) @ 11/4

Archie Goodwin is Adelaide's top scorer with eight goals this season but the 20-year-old has failed to fire in his last two matches and has been substituted before the 70-minute mark in defeats to Newcastle Jets and Western United.

Next up in the scoring charts for the Reds is Stefan Mauk whose sixth goal of the campaign came in the 2-1 defeat to the Jets on February 15.

The 29-year-old looks to have established himself as one of United's most important players, starting all 17 league games and finishing the last two. Half (three) of his strikes have come away from home so he's someone that travels well.

At 11/4, he's a good price to notch a seventh of the season on Saturday.

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