Sydney FC vs Adelaide United Prediction: Sky Blues & Reds in another thriller?

The first of Saturday's Australia A-League Men's action takes place at the Sydney Football Stadium (KO, 07:00), as Sydney FC welcome Adelaide United to the New South Wales capital.

The pressure is on the visitors to snap out of a three-game winless run which has included two defeats and eight goals conceded, while the hosts should be in good spirits after taking eight points from their last four matches, and winning their last three at home.

Ufak Talay's side now sit sixth after that run of form, three places and four points better off than Adelaide United, whom they have already met twice this season.

Sydney were convincing winners in the first clash, thrashing their opponents 5-1 in Adelaide last November, but the Reds turned it around last month to win 4-3 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Team News

Last weekend was a successful one for Sydney FC as they emerged from Gosford with a 3-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners, but it came at a cost for striker Patrick Wood, in more ways than one.

After sending social media stir crazy with a miss of the season (century?) contender, Wood was taken off on the hour-mark, and it later transpired that he had been playing through a stress fracture for the previous three weeks. The ankle injury has now forced him onto crutches, and he will be sidelined for the next 12 weeks.

Robert Mak is likely to jump back into the starting XI in place of Wood, with Fabio Gomes playing the role of lone striker.

Jack Rodwell, Joel King and Aaron Gurd, meanwhile, miss out on the squad again, but there is good news on Gabriel Lacerda, who has been included in the extended squad after missing the last match with a groin injury.

The visitors will welcome back veteran defender Javi Lopez after the Spaniard's recent absence with a quad injury, and the 38-year-old has been joined in the squad by Austin Ayoubi, who missed out against Perth Glory last week.

Nick Ansell, Lachlan Barr, Jay Barnett, Jonny Yull, Panashe Madanha and Musa Toure all remain out, though.

Nestory Irankunda and Ben Halloran are among those looking to earn starts after substitute appearances against Perth Glory.

Match Odds

Sydney FC are 4/6 to record a fourth straight home win, with the draw at 3/1 and a victory for Adelaide United priced at 3/1.

Both teams to score is 4/11 and it's 4/5 for over 3.5 goals.

Sydney FC or draw and over 3.5 goals @ 6/5

Sydney have been one of the best sides in the division since swapping Steve Corica for Talay. The former Wellington Phoenix boss kicked off his reign with a 5-1 win over Saturday's opponents and hasn't looked back, winning seven of his 13 games in charge of the Sky Blues. Five of those have come in the last eight, and the 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United is the only reversal of that period.

In contrast, the visitors have been on a miserable run of form, winning just two of their last 11. Head coach Carl Veart hasn't been shy in calling out his players in the press as he seeks to stop the rot at the Reds.

Despite this, I'm not completely sold on the idea that Sydney are guaranteed winners this weekend. They beat the Mariners in impressive fashion last Saturday, but before that, they recorded back-to-back draws against Western United and Melbourne Victory. Granted, they were away from home, but it shows they are not infallible.

It was a topsy-turvy game for Adelaide United against the Glory a day prior as they went two-up before capitulating and requiring a 98th-minute equaliser to take a point. However, they did beat Sydney at their own ground the last time these sides met, and one would think a side containing the likes of Halloran, Irankunda, Hiroshi Ibusuki and Zach Clough, can turn the tide eventually.

It may not be to the effect of a win, but a draw isn't outside the realm of possibilities, which is why I'm taking the insurance of Sydney FC to win or a draw on this one. One thing that should be guaranteed is goals, though.

Six of Sydney's last eight games have seen at least four goals scored, while over 3.5 has landed in five of United's last eight.

Hiroshi Ibusuki to score anytime @ 11/8

The Japanese striker is one of few Reds to emerge with any real credit over the last couple of months.

Ibusuki has scored seven goals in his last eight appearances, including a hat-trick against Sydney last month.

The 32-year-old will be key again as Veart bids to upset the odds in New South Wales, and he should get chances against a defence with just one clean sheet all season.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.