Western United vs Auckland Prediction: Aloisi’s side to do their bit in continental charge

A 1-0 win against Sydney FC last Sunday has kept Western United in the mix to finish second and claim a spot in next season’s lucrative AFC Champions League Elite competition, although they will need the Sky Blues to do them a favour and take points off Melbourne City before they host Auckland FC at Ironbark Fields on Saturday (09:00, TNT Sports 6).

Below are my Western United vs Auckland predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds, as the 2024/25 Australian A-League Men's premiers' plate winners round off their maiden regular campaign in Tarneit.

Team News

Ten-goal Western United marksman Hiroshi Ibusuki, who missed last weekend's win over Sydney, is back fit for the visit of the champions on Saturday. The Japanese forward is expected to renew his prolific partnership up top with 11-goal top scorer Noah Botic, who is searching for his first strike since March 16.

Sebastian Pasquali hasn't made an appearance since February 15 but has been named in John Aloisi's extended squad, but Tate Russell (unspecified) will miss a second consecutive game due to injury.

Football Odds

Abel Walatee missed five straight matches for Western United but returned as a substitute last Sunday and is expected to earn more minutes this weekend.

Auckland have no injury issues to contend with, but head coach Steve Corica could make a few changes to his starting XI with the plate already secured.

Callan Elliot, Liam Gillion, Cameron Howieson, Neyder Moreno and Jesse Randall are among those eyeing starts on Saturday, although Corica will be wary of making wholesale alterations with the Black Knights not in action for another two weeks.

Western United vs Auckland Odds

These two sides have faced off twice already this season, at Go Media Stadium and Ironbark Fields, with the away team victorious on both occasions. Western United, who won the first encounter 4-0 in New Zealand, are 9/10, or a 52.6% chance, to make it back-to-back competition victories following last Sunday's success against Sydney, while Auckland are 12/5, implying a 29.4% probability.

The draw is priced at 13/5, both teams to score at 8/15, and over 3.5 total goals at 11/8.

Botic and Ibusuki (both 11/8) head the anytime goalscorer market, with nine-goal Uruguayan forward Guillermo May (15/8) first up for the visitors.

Match Result - Western United @ 9/10

Western kick off an hour after City on Saturday, so things could change for them throughout the contest, with a draw enough for them to finish second if Aurelio Vidmar's side lose to Sydney and Western Sydney Wanderers fail to beat Macarthur later in the day.

In reality, though, United can't afford to take anything less than three points, so they should be going all out for the victory against Auckland, whose only aim will be to maintain rhythm for the semi-finals in a couple of weeks.

The Black Knights are unbeaten since January 11, but they've drawn five of their last eight games, including two of their last four away from home.

The motivation is all with the hosts at Ironbark Fields, where they are in great form, winning their last four games by an aggregate of 11-2, so a Western win at just under EVS looks fair to me here.

To Win to Nil - Western United @ 11/4

Western picked up a rare clean sheet last Sunday, shutting out Sydney's star-studded attack in Tarneit, and I think they're worthy of consideration to make it back-to-back clean sheets this weekend.

Auckland only scored once last Sunday at home to the league's worst defence and, as previously mentioned, have nothing really riding on this game, whereas United have everything to play for.

I was impressed by the defensive diligence of Aloisi's side against the Sky Blues, and they already have one clean sheet to their name against the Black Knights this season, shutting Corica's charges out in a 4-0 thrashing four days before Christmas Day.

Offers

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