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A-League Men’s Semi-Final First Leg Previews & Betting Tips – 2024/25 Season
The stage is set for the semi-finals of the 2024/25 A-League Men’s competition, with two blockbuster matchups kicking off this weekend. Here’s a breakdown of the key clashes, recent form, and expert betting insights ahead of the action.
Melbourne City vs Western United
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 7:35 PM AEST
Venue: AAMI Park
Western United are riding a six-game winning streak, including a thrilling 3-2 elimination final win over Adelaide United in front of a record-breaking crowd at Ironbark Fields. Striker Noah Botic was the hero, netting a brace to take his season tally to 14 goals and claim the top spot in the A-League goal charts. Creative midfielder Riku Danzaki also stood out with two assists, further showcasing Western’s attacking prowess.
Melbourne City enter this contest in red-hot form as well, with six wins from their previous nine outings. Their latest performance was a statement: a dominant 5-1 win over Sydney FC, where they outclassed their opponents with clinical finishing and 83% pass accuracy. That win not only demonstrated their firepower but also knocked the Sky Blues out of finals contention.
This sets up a tantalising all-Melbourne semi-final derby—two fierce rivals with Grand Final dreams on the line. Past meetings between these two clubs have consistently delivered entertaining, high-stakes drama. Memorable encounters include City’s late 83rd-minute winner via Terry Antonis last season, and the thrilling 2-2 comeback draw in 2022. Even when Western were under siege, such as absorbing 27 shots to win 2-1 in 2021, they’ve proven they won’t roll over.
This first leg promises to be just as entertaining, with a sold-out crowd expected to fuel the intensity.
Betting Tips:
– Back Western United to win at $2.70 (Bet365)
– BTTS — Both Teams to Score at $1.47 (BoomBet)
– Over 8 total corners in the match at $1.22 (Bet365)
– Noah Botic or Hiroshi Ibusuki to score anytime at $2.60 (Bet365)
Melbourne Victory vs Auckland FC
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 7:35 PM AEST
Venue: AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory booked their semi-final spot after a 2-1 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers, thanks to a standout performance from Daniel Arzani. The former Celtic forward was electric, providing the assist for Kasey Bos in the seventh minute and dazzling with a solo run that helped Zinedine Machach net the winning goal just before halftime.
Auckland FC, meanwhile, are living up to their hype in an incredible debut season. Coached by Steve Corica, the New Zealand-based outfit claimed the Premiership and now have their eyes firmly on the Championship. Their brand of fast, attacking football has impressed all season long, and they head into this fixture having suffered just one defeat in their last 15 matches.
Auckland enter this clash full of confidence, having already beaten Victory 2-1 at AAMI Park a few weeks ago. On that day, Louis Verstraete opened the scoring before Guillermo May sealed the result late. While Melbourne’s defence has held strong in back-to-back matches—conceding just one big goal-scoring chance against both the Wanderers and Jets—containing Auckland’s dynamic attacking trio may prove a different challenge.
May (9 goals), Neyder Moreno (8 goals), and Logan Rogerson (8 goals) possess the firepower to break through any backline. Given their form and recent success over Victory, Auckland look well-positioned to leave Melbourne with a first-leg advantage.
Betting Tips:
– Back Auckland FC to win at $3.00 (Bet365)
– Total goals over 3.5 at $2.62 (Bet365)
– No goals to be scored in the first 9:59 at $1.22 (Bet365)
– Guillermo May to score anytime at $1.95 (Bet365)
Get set for a thrilling weekend of football, with everything to play for in these high-stakes semi-final clashes.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com
