Sydney FC vs Macarthur Prediction: Bulls have hold over Sky Blues

The first of two Elimination Finals in the Australian A-League Men's takes place at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday (10:45, TNT Sports 6), as Sydney FC host Macarthur FC. The sides couldn't be separated in the table as they both finished on 41 points after 27 games, with the Sky Blues only finishing fourth and thus securing a home Elimination Final based on a greater number of wins in the competition.

Ahead of Saturday's showdown contest I have outlined my Sydney FC vs Macarthur prediction, which you can check out below, and noted all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Sydney FC are boosted by the return of two strikers to their squad, with Fabio Gomes back in after a one-game absence and Pat Wood named for the first time since suffering a serious injury on February 10.

Gus Hoefsloot remains unavailable for selection, however.

Macarthur can call upon defender Matthew Millar again after a month-long absence and the 27-year-old has been joined in the squad by Tommy Smith, who recently served a one-game suspension for a red card awarded to him in the Bulls' 1-0 win over Sydney FC on April 20.

Bernardo Oliveira, Jake McGing and Jesper Webber remain injured, while Jerry Skotadis and Aiath Piol have been omitted from the list.

Match Odds

Sydney FC are 2/5 to win inside regulation time on Saturday, giving them an implied win probability of 71.4%, while Macarthur can be backed at 5/1 (16.7%).

The draw, which would send the tie to extra time, is available at 18/5, and it's 5/6 for over 3.5 goals in 90 minutes.

Double chance & both teams to score - Draw or Macarthur & Yes @ 5/2

Sydney FC are overwhelming favourites to win on Saturday, most likely on account of them being hosts. Only the top two sides - Wellington Phoenix (32) and Central Coast Mariners (29) - picked up more points at home than the Sky Blues (26) in the A-League Men's, and Ufuk Talay's team are unbeaten in their last nine there, seven of which they have won.

Their last defeat on home soil was back on December 9, against their next opponents, Macarthur. The Bulls were helped enormously by a 15th-minute red card shown to Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, which helped them on their way to a 2-0 win courtesy of strikes from Jake Hollman and Valere Germain.

But Macarthur also managed to win the reverse fixture at Campbelltown Stadium last month, despite having two players dismissed - Ivan Vujica in the 37th minute, and Smith in the 67th.

The Bulls have won the last three head-to-heads, with Sydney FC's last victory in this fixture coming back in October 2022, but the Sky Blues have never beaten them at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Momentum is on Sydney FC's side as they finished the season above Macarthur, but Mile Sterjovski's side will take great confidence from their recent record against Saturday's hosts.

I think the visitors can at least take the tie to extra time, and I expect both teams to find the net inside regulation time, too, with BTTS landing in four of Sydney FC's last five games and four of the Bulls' last six.

Ulises Davila anytime goalscorer @ 21/10

There is value to be had in picking a Macarthur player to score anytime on Saturday, considering I have opted for BTTS in the first selection.

Ulises Davila takes my fancy at 21/10 after his most prolific season yet at the Bulls, whom he has struck nine times for in 24 A-League Men's appearances this term.

The 33-year-old returned to action against his former side Wellington Phoenix last week but should be fresh and raring to go this weekend after previously sitting out for three weeks to serve a suspension.

Davila was on target at Sydney Football Stadium in December 2022 and has a good record against the Sky Blues, scoring five times in nine outings against them - only against Western United (six) has he scored more times.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here