A-League Week 5 Betting Preview: Sydney FC vs. Melbourne Victory Odds, Analysis

Sydney FC have had a perfect first month of the A-League season, but they will put that record on the line against long-time rivals Melbourne Victory in the highlight game of Week 5 of the season.

The Sky Blues have yet to concede a goal and have looked damaging in attack, scoring 11 goals in four games. They are now clear favorites for the A-League title, according to website Australian Gambling, which would be their first in seven seasons.

The Sydney-Melbourne Victory rivalry was heightened by their two clashes in Grand Finals (2015 and 2010) but has its foundation in the early stages of the A-League, when both had claims on being the league's biggest club. The rivalry between the players is strong, but it is even greater in the stands.

It has not diminished over the years, and the respective coaches of the teams, Graham Arnold and Kevin Muscat, have relished putting their players under the pressure of a match that has become known as the Big Blue.

With odds from Australian Gambling, Sydney go into this match as $1.85 favorites and would desperately love to defeat Victory for the first time since January 2014.

Victory pride themselves on their good record against the Sky Blues and are coming off consecutive wins against Adelaide and Wellington, which have propelled them to third on the ladder, five points adrift of Sydney. They go into this match as $4 outsiders, while the draw is $3.60.

On Friday night, Melbourne City, currently second, head to Brisbane to take on a Roar side coming off a strong win against Perth.

City are in good form, winning three of their four matches to open the season, with Bruno Fornaroli looking in the same devastating form up front as last year when he set all sorts of goalscoring records.

City are $2.35 favorites, but the Roar have not lost at home in their past nine matches and are $2.75 to win this one. The draw is a $3.55 shot.

Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick is under considerable pressure after a poor start to the season, highlighted by the 6-1 loss to Melbourne Victory on Monday.

Yet to secure a point, they go into Saturday's home match against Newcastle Jets as $2.05 favorites, with the Jets at $3.30 and the draw at $3.60.

A Wellington defeat here would heap more pressure on Merrick, with things looking pretty glum in the windy city right now.

The first of Sunday's matches sees the competition's other winless teams, Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners, clash at Cooper Stadium.

The Reds are desperate to kick-start their championship defense and go into this match as $1.45 favorites for the three points. The draw is $4.50, while the Mariners are $6.50.

Perth Glory's title aspirations took a bit of a dip with their loss in Brisbane last week, but they return home to host the Wanderers with plenty of confidence knowing their last eight games at Nib Stadium have resulted in six wins and two draws.

Accordingly, they go in as $2 favorites, with the Wanderers at $3.40 and the draw at $3.60.