Brisbane Roar vs. Western United – A-League, March 27, 2021

Brisbane and Western United clash for the second time in the space of a fortnight on Saturday, March 27, following a 1-0 win for Mark Rudan’s team in the reverse fixture.

After being held to a draw by Wellington last weekend, the Roar’s winless run now stands at seven games. Somehow, the Queenslanders still sit in seventh place on the A-League ladder – two points ahead of eighth-place United.

In this Brisbane Roar vs. Western United betting preview, I assess the bookmakers’ odds before sharing my prediction and pick.

The Roar may have failed to win any of their previous six outings, yet the top online sportsbooks still favor the home side to come out on top at Dolphin Stadium.

Given Brisbane’s recent run, the price for the away win stands out here. However, it is important to remember that Western United is also enduring a difficult period at the moment.

Let’s take a closer look at the teams.

After winning four of their opening five games, Warren Moon’s men were talked about as genuine title contenders this season. But in soccer, a lot can change in a couple of months.

Since early February, the Roar have been sliding down the A-League ladder, with a seven-match winless run – four draws and three defeats – taking them from second to seventh in the standings.

But at the end of the day, a serious lack of attacking threat has cost the Queenslanders far too many points of late.

The Roar registered 17 shots (nine on target) against Western United earlier in the month, yet they eventually lost 1-0. Nothing sums up Brisbane’s struggles better than that.

Moon’s men can take a slight bit of confidence because Western United is also going through a testing time right now.

The Green & Black kicked off the campaign with a four-match unbeaten streak, beating Melbourne City and Perth Glory in the process. But since then, Rudan’s men have suffered four defeats in the last seven games, with three losses coming in their previous four outings.

Following back-to-back defeats to the Wanderers and Sydney FC, United beat Brisbane at AAMI Park. However, Macarthur got the better of the Melbourne outfit last weekend.

Dylan Pierias maintained his personal hot streak, scoring his fifth goal in nine games to give the Green & Black an early advantage against the Bulls. But Rudan’s men ended up throwing away their lead and losing 2-1.

It’s fair to say that United is suffering from Alessandro Diamanti’s recent downturn in form. The veteran playmaker bagged eight goals and seven assists last term, but he is yet to get on the scoresheet this season.

Having assessed the form of both sides, my best bet for Brisbane Roar vs. Western United is the draw – simply because I can’t see either team winning!

United edged Brisbane last time around, but the Roar could – and should – have come away with something from that game. Moon’s men have also drawn four of their last six matches, making them the A-League’s draw specialists.