Macarthur FC vs. Melbourne Victory Pick – A-League, Friday, April 22, 2022

Macarthur FC and Melbourne Victory will both be aiming to enhance their Finals Series credentials when they go head-to-head at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday, April 22.

As it stands, sixth-place Macarthur trails third-place Victory by six points on the A-League ladder. With only a handful of regular-season games remaining, the battle for a top-six finish is heating up.

The bad news for Macarthur is that Tony Popovic’s men head into Friday’s clash on an 11-game unbeaten streak. Can the Bulls end that run? Read on to discover my Macarthur vs. Melbourne Victory prediction and pick.

Unsurprisingly, 10Bet views Melbourne Victory (2.05) as the favorite to win this one. Why is that unsurprising? Because Victory hasn’t tasted defeat since all the way back on February 16.

The Boys in Blue have picked up six wins and five draws since their last A-League loss, keeping five clean sheets along the way. Needless to say, they will be confident of overcoming Macarthur (3.20) on Friday.

Given that Popovic’s men have drawn five of their past nine outings, the high price for the draw (3.50) is bound to attract plenty of attention here. Still, it is important to remember that Victory beat Macarthur 3-1 last month.

Macarthur comes into Friday’s clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Western United. Despite racking up 54% possession and 20 shots, the Bulls failed to make the most of their dominance.

It is also worth noting that Adrian Mariappa was sent off in Tuesday’s loss, meaning the former EPL defender will miss the next game through suspension.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Macarthur has been one of the most inconsistent sides in the A-League this season. The team’s unpredictability is highlighted by a record of W9-D5-L9.

The Bulls haven’t struggled to score goals in 2021-22. In fact, only four teams have scored more A-League goals than Macarthur’s 36 this year. At the other end of the field, however, it is a totally different story.

Having conceded a whopping 39 goals in 23 games, Milicic’s boys have the third-worst defensive record in the competition. Only leaky Wellington Phoenix and last-place Perth Glory have conceded more goals this season.

If they carry on the way they’re going, they could find themselves outside the top six by the time the Finals Series comes around.

By contrast, Melbourne Victory boasts the best defensive record in the A-League. Having conceded a measly 21 goals in 22 outings, the Boys in Blue have the tightest backline in the comp.

High-flying Western United is the only other team to have conceded fewer than 30 goals this season. That tells you everything you need to know about Victory’s solid defense.

Last weekend, Popovic’s side claimed a 2-1 win against Newcastle Jets. Following Nick D’Agostino’s opener, Savvas Siatravanis equalized before Francesco Margiotta netted the winning goal in second-half stoppage-time.

When Victory registered one win in seven games between December and February, their season could have crumbled. Instead, 2021-22 could prove to be one of their most successful campaigns in recent history.

It feels as though Popovic has a point to prove after failing to establish himself in the European coaching game. If the A-League ladder is anything to go by, then he is doing a pretty good job.

Victory sealed a dominant 3-1 win against Macarthur at the beginning of March. If it weren’t for a last-gasp Apostolos Giannou consolation goal, the Boys in Blue would have achieved another shutout.

Since then, the Bulls have managed to win just three of their nine A-League games. On the flip side, Popovic’s men have extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a series of impressive performances.

Having taken everything into consideration, the away win is my Macarthur FC vs. Melbourne Victory prediction. At the end of the day, you cannot ignore the contrasting form of these two sides.

Given Victory’s remarkable hot streak, odds of 2.05 for the away win feel extremely generous here. I recommend jumping on this price before the A-League oddsmakers change their minds.

If you’re keen to learn more about betting on the A-League, be sure to check out our A-League betting guide. You can find tons of useful information on that page, including A-League betting tips and strategies, stats and records, and more.

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