Macarthur FC vs. Wellington Phoenix – A-League, June 4, 2021

Macarthur and Wellington play their final regular-season match at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday, June 4.

With 39 points to their name, the Bulls look set to cap off a hugely successful maiden campaign by qualifying for the A-League finals.

Despite producing a remarkable ten-game unbeaten streak, the Nix – who sit four points behind Macarthur – will likely miss out on a top-six finish by the barest of margins.

If you’re here for my Macarthur FC vs. Wellington Phoenix prediction and betting pick – keep reading. I discuss the odds and analyze the teams below.

Having lost just one of their previous eight matches, the Bulls are the bookies’ favorites to win this one. That said, Macarthur has one of the A-League’s most inconsistent home records this season (W4-D4-L4).

Given that Wellington hasn’t tasted defeat since April 5, betting against the Bulls is definitely worth considering here. In my eyes, the odds for the away win and the draw offer great value.

A six-match unbeaten streak across April and May saw Macarthur all but secure their spot in the finals. A run of two wins and four draws was ended by a loss to the Mariners, although the Bulls bounced straight back last time out.

Markel Susaeta and Mark Milligan both netted first-half goals as Macarthur beat Western United 2-1 on Monday. The visitors enjoyed 62% possession and thoroughly deserved their victory, even if Iker Guarrotxena’s second-half strike set up a nervous ending.

Ante Milicic’s men now find themselves level with third-place Central Coast and five points behind second-placed Sydney FC. Of course, Melbourne City is miles ahead at the top. But the newcomers can be seriously proud of their efforts.

Macarthur has been a real team effort this year, although one man has stood out from the crowd – Matt Derbyshire. The English striker has netted 14 goals in 25 games and has bagged three goals and two assists in his previous four outings.

If the Nix do end up missing out on a top-six berth, they will have every reason to feel aggrieved. After all, they have avoided defeat in each of their last ten games – picking up five wins and five draws along the way.

During the hot streak, Wellington has beaten Western United twice and has also claimed wins over Perth Glory, Adelaide United, and Western Sydney. On top of that, Ufuk Talay’s men have held Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City to draws.

They have also tightened things up at the back of late, keeping three clean sheets in their last six games.

Tomer Hemed has played a pivotal role in Wellington’s recent rise. The former Brighton forward has scored five goals across the past four matches, taking his tally for the season to ten goals in 20 games.

The draw is my Macarthur FC vs. Wellington Phoenix betting pick, simply because I can’t see either side losing on Friday. Both teams are in great form, so I expect the points to be shared in Campbelltown.

The Nix know they must win to stand any chance of finishing inside the top six. However, Derbyshire and co. are likely to make life difficult for the visitors.