Macarthur vs Brisbane Roar Prediction: Bratt summer is back in Australia

Macarthur and Brisbane Roar both suffered defeat in the Australia A-League Men's 'Unite Round' in Sydney last weekend. The two teams meet each other at the Bulls' Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday (08:35, TNT Sports 4), so at least one side won't be ending November without a point in the second half of the month.

Below is my Macarthur vs Brisbane Roar prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Chris Ikonomidis and Bernardo are still injured for Macarthur, but Jed Drew is back in the squad after a two-match absence.

The Bulls lost 1-0 to Auckland in last weekend's 'Unite Round', so head coach Mile Stejovski may be tempted into a few changes. Daniel De Silva and Harrison Sawyer are two of the strongest contenders to be promoted from the bench on Saturday.

Football Odds

Like their hosts, Brisbane Roar have two players - Neicer Acosta and Scott Neville - still sidelined through injury.

Ruben Zadkovich is still searching for a winning formula after his side lost their first four ALM games of the season, the latest of which was a 3-2 defeat to Adelaide United last Saturday when they were 2-1 up at half-time.

Florin Berenguer, Rafael Struick and Harry van der Saag are all pushing for starts this weekend after substitute outings last time out.

Macarthur vs Brisbane Roar Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Macarthur vs Brisbane Roar page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Macarthur are 8/11 favourites, giving the Bulls an implied win probability of 57.9%, while Brisbane Roar are 11/4, or a 26.7% chance, to get off the mark with a victory in Sydney.

The draw is priced at 11/4, both teams to score at 1/2, and over 2.5 total goals at 1/2.

Bulls striker Valere Germain (6/5) heads the anytime goalscorer market followed by teammates Sawyer and Marin Jakolis (both 11/8), with Thomas Waddingham (2/1) first up for the Roar.

Double Chance - Draw or Brisbane Roar @ 1/1

Are Brisbane Roar getting closer to claiming their first ALM point of the season? They looked to be good for at least one last weekend after they went into the interval 2-1 up on Adelaide United, but a couple of goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half for the Reds at Allianz Stadium denied them a win or draw in Sydney.

The Roar return to Australia's most populous city this weekend but this time they will be playing at Campbelltown Stadium, home of the Bulls, who have lost three times this season, including three of their last four.

Macarthur opened up the 2024/25 campaign with a 6-1 annihilation of reigning wooden spooners Perth Glory, but their only win since was a 2-1 victory over a 10-man Sydney FC on November 11, with the Sky Blues having to contend for over half of the match without defender Hayden Matthews. The Bulls took the lead in the 73rd minute through Ariath Piol but after Pat Wood equaliser in the 88th minute, they required a stoppage-time winner from Jakolis to claim all three points.

In fairness to the 2024 Australia Cup champions, all three of their defeats have been by a one-goal margin as they suffered back-to-back 2-1 losses to Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory before last weekend's 1-0 to Auckland.

Quite rightly, the Bulls are big favourites to beat a Roar outfit that is yet to get even a single point on board, but at EVS, I'm willing to back Brisbane to avoid defeat on Saturday. This pointless start to the season can't go on forever, and despite letting a lead slip last weekend, I do think Zadkovich's side can take some positives from their defeat to Adelaide.

The Lions also ran Sydney FC close at the start of the month, drawing 2-2 until the 90th minute when Jaiden Kucharski struck a winner for the Sky Blues.

They've been beaten 2-0 in both away games so far against Auckland and Melbourne Victory but the former have won all four matches at the time of writing, and the latter only lost their first in the 'Unite Round'.

At the price available, I'm willing to take on a draw or the Roar to win in Sydney on Saturday.

Player to Receive a Card - Luke Brattan (MAC) @ 3/1

Luke Brattan has been a consistent carder in the ALM over the last decade. Since the start of the 2012/13 campaign, which he spent at Brisbane Roar, the midfielder has been shown at least five yellows per season.

Meanwhile, during a four-season stay at Sydney FC, which only came to an end earlier this year, Brattan was booked 33 times and shown one red.

The 34-year-old is yet to receive a card for his new side Macarthur but is averaging a foul per game, giving away two free-kicks against Auckland last weekend, and a first caution for the Bulls feels like it's only just around the corner.

At 3/1, I think Brattan is a decent price to receive a card against the Roar, particularly with the visitors fielding 22-year-old Keegan Jelacic, who has been fouled an average of 2.5 times per game this term. Jelacic was fouled twice against Adelaide last time out and Reds defender Panagiotis Kikanis was carded for a rough challenge on the forward.

Offers

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