Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney FC Prediction: Sky Blues to earn Sydney derby bragging rights

The pick of this weekend's Australian A-League Men's action comes from CommBank Stadium on Saturday (09:35, TNT Sports 7) as Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC contest the first Sydney derby of the season.

Read below for my Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney FC prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds, as the division's two marquee signings, Juan Mata and Douglas Costa, go head-to-head on the opening weekend.

Team News

Western Sydney Wanderers pulled off one of the most memorable signings in A-League Men's history last month with the arrival of Juan Mata, whose storied CV includes four years at Valencia, three years at Chelsea, and eight years at Manchester United.

The Spaniard hasn't played a competitive game of football since September 16, 2023, however, when he made his only appearance for Japanese side Vissel Kobe, so it's unclear if he will be fit enough to start Saturday's derby or whether he will have to join the action in the second half.

Bozhidar Kraev's move to WSW hasn't created nearly as many headlines but the Bulgarian scored 13 A-League goals across two seasons with Wellington Phoenix and appears ready-made to slot into the Wanderers' starting XI.

Other additions include South Korean defender Tae-Wook Jeong (Jeonbuk), but new head coach Alan Stajcic won't be able to call upon the services of former captain Marcelo, Daniel Margush (both free agents), Milos Ninkovic (retired), Dylan Pierias (Adelaide United), Lachlan Brook (Real Salt Lake), Marcus Younis (Jong PSV) or Jorrit Hendrix (Munster), who all left the club in the off-season.

Football Odds

Sydney FC's chances of beating the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League playoffs were pretty much scuppered by a season-ending injury suffered by talisman Joe Lolley, and so it proved as they lost 2-1 over two legs. The former Nottingham Forest winger is back fit now, though, and he scored the Sky Blues' equaliser in a 4-1 victory over Filipino side Kaya in the AFC Champions League 2 earlier this month.

New arrival Patryk Klimala bagged a brace in that thriller in Manila and the ex-Celtic striker, on loan from Slask in his homeland Poland, is expected to spearhead Sydney FC's attack this season under Ufuk Talay. The Sky Blues head coach took over from Steve Corica last November and led the club to a fourth-place finish, three places and four points ahead of their city rivals.

Sydney FC's biggest capture of the off-season was Douglas Costa, formerly of Juventus and Bayern Munich, who left Brazilian side Fluminense earlier this year. Costa has registered an assist in each of his two appearances so far - both in the AFC Champions League 2 - and looks set to form one part of the league's most devastating triumvirate alongside Lolley and Klimala.

Other new arrivals include German midfielder Anas Ouahim (Sheriff Tiraspol), who scored twice in a 5-0 September thrashing of Hong Kong outfit Eastern AA, Australian defender Alexander Popovic (Gwanju, loan) and Brazilian Leo Sena (Agua Santa).

Experienced trio Robert Mak (Slovan Bratislava), Luke Brattan (Macarthur FC) and Jack Rodwell (free agent) have all left the club, however, while Fabio Gomes, who struck 11 times in the A-League last season, returned to his parent club Atletico-MG before moving on to Bolivian side Bolivar.

Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney FC Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney FC page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Saturday's hosts are 7/4 to wreak their revenge on March's 4-1 loss at CommBank Stadium with a win of their own, giving the Wanderers an implied win probability of 36.4% this weekend. The visitors, meanwhile, are 5/4, or a 44.4% chance, to beat their rivals for a third successive time, with the draw priced at 12/5.

Both teams to score has landed in both meetings between the sides this calendar year and it's 2/5 for a BTTS - Yes hat-trick on Saturday, with over 2.5 total goals at 1/2.

Klimala (6/4) leads the anytime goalscorer market followed by Wanderers striker Marcus Antonsson (13/8), who struck just five times in his debut campaign in Australia.

Match Result & BTTS - Sydney FC & Yes @ 5/2

Sydney FC reigned supreme in Sydney last season, finishing above their bitter rivals - who failed to reach the playoffs - and winning two of the three derbies, including a 4-1 humiliation of the Wanderers in the only contest played at CommBank Stadium. That followed the Sky Blues' playoff victory over WSW there in May 2023, meaning Talay's side have now won three of the last four head-to-heads - two under his tutelage.

Wanderers have a new manager at the helm with Stajcic replacing the controversial Marko Rudan, and hopes are high that they can push on and reach the top six this time around.

However, WSW have lost some key players during the off-season, none more important than centre-back Marcelo, who was a pillar of their defence for two seasons. Mata has come in but he has been out of action for nearly a year and can't be expected to make an immediate impact, while it remains to be seen if Brandon Borrello can return to his 2022/23 form when he scored 13 times in 27 appearances.

I think Wanderers are a work in progress, and while Sydney FC certainly aren't the finished article themselves, I believe there is a stronger base to build from there, and they should benefit from the continuity of Talay in charge.

I'm really excited to see Lolley, Costa and Klimala in the Sky Blues' attack this season, and if the trio can all stay fit, Sydney FC should be among the highest scorers in the A-League.

The early signs are positive and I think they're in better shape than Wanderers to kick off their campaign with a win, although the hosts can still get themselves on the scoresheet with Sydney FC ending the 2023/24 campaign with just one clean sheet in their last 14 games.

The Sky Blues also lost 3-1 to Oakleigh in the Australia Cup and conceded away to Kaya in the AFC Champions League so they are not infallible at the back.

Anytime Goalscorer - Joe Lolley (SYD) @ 9/5

Lolley has proven himself as one of the best players in the A-League Men's over the last two seasons, following up six goals and five assists in his debut campaign with 12 strikes and seven assists in 2023/24.

The Englishman should be helped this term by the additions of Klimala and Costa, particularly the latter who established himself as a prolific provider in Europe, particularly in the 2017/18 Serie A season when he laid on 12 goals for his Juventus teammates.

Lolley is still searching for his first Sydney derby goal after blanking in his first six appearances against the Wanderers, so he will be desperate to open his account on Saturday.

The 32-year-old is already off the mark for the season after netting against Kaya earlier this month, and that should have built up a bit of confidence that he can take with him into this hotly-anticipated clash at CommBank Stadium.

He's more likely to play the duration of Saturday's game than Costa or Klimala, so I fancy his chances more of finding the net than the Brazilian or Pole.

Offers

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