Adelaide United v Melbourne City: A-League Friday preview

Adelaide United will look to return to winning ways when they take on Melbourne City on Friday night.

The Reds remain in second spot on the ladder, but after failing to win in the last two games, they have allowed Auckland FC to open up a five-point gap.

They cannot allow that to get any bigger if they are to keep alive hopes of winning the minor premiership, so three points against City is a must.

It will be far from easy though against a City side that needs the points to help book a place in the top six.

Three points for City would also cut the gap on Adelaide to just one point, which shows how tight it is at the top.

There is usually goals when these two sides meet, so we could be in for an entertaining night at Coopers Stadium.

Adelaide United v Melbourne City betting preview

Adelaide need a response

Adelaide United had been flying high until they were stopped in their tracks with a 4-1 defeat away at Sydney FC last weekend.

In the game before they fought out a 2-2 draw with Auckland FC, and need to rediscover the kind of form that saw them win three on the bounce before it.

Scoring goals has not been an issue for the Reds this season, scoring 32 in total, but keeping it tight at the back has been.

The four they shipped in against Sydney means they have now conceded 25, more than anyone else in the top four.

Carl Veart’s men will need to plug the holes if they are to win silverware, starting against Melbourne City.

Adelaide’s form at home this season has been patchy, drawing four games and losing one. They have won just twice, meaning Coopers Stadium has hardly been a fortress.

Archie Goodwin remains their leading goalscorer with seven, while Stefan Mauk has also chipped in with five.

City look to snap losing streak

Melbourne City had been in good form when winning three games on the bounce, only to lose the next two.

All three wins were on home soil, while the defeat were on the road, going down 3-0 at Auckland FC and 1-0 at Macarthur FC.

City will now look to cure their travel sickness at Coopers Stadium, but the record books do not make for happy reading.

They have lost the last to visits 6-0 and 4-2, and have not won at Coopers in the last three attempts.

City have won four times on the road this season, but the last one was at the start of December when they won 4-1 at Brisbane Roar.

For once City are lacking a top goalscorer. Yonatan Cohen leads the way but only has four in nine appearances.

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Adelaide United v Melbourne City odds

Adelaide United - 2.00
Draw - 3.60
Melbourne City - 3.60

View the full market and more odds for Adelaide United v Melbourne City on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.