- Adelaide Croatia Raiders' last 3 home fixtures have yielded two wins and one defeat in SA State League 1
- Adelaide Croatia Raiders won 3-0 in the reverse fixture three months ago
- South Adelaide have lost five and drawn one of their six away league matches, conceding an average of 3.67 goals per-game
Adelaide Croatia Raiders set to win the chess game
Adelaide Croatia Raiders are heavy favourites at 1.34 to win this one and the odds are about right as they host South Adelaide on Saturday, who are 6.75 outsiders.
The Raiders are currently fifth in South Australia State League 1 after taking 22 points from 13 games this season. They have been solid and consistent in the upper half of the table, unlike South Adelaide who have had a rough season so far in 11th with 11 points.
Croatia have been more consistent than good but they are a well-structured team that likes to have the ball and play through the thirds. They are an attacking team that can play a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, employing wide wingers and full-backs that push forward to stretch teams and create overloads.
But South Adelaide are a different breed of club and will try to make it tough on their opponents by sitting deep and counter-attacking. They will set up a compact, narrow block and look to hit on the counter when possession is regained.
Opposing philosophies should make for an interesting game
This contest of styles should play out on the wings and South Adelaide's lack of possession means they will probably be the more likely to be hit on the break.
Croatia have won two and lost one of their last three home fixtures and they should be able to take all three points on Saturday. South Adelaide's last two away fixtures have seen them draw and lose after back-to-back 1-1 home draws and a 2-0 home defeat.
Adelaide's form has been mixed of late with two wins, one draw and two defeats in the last five. But their last two games were back-to-back 3-1 victories at home prior to a 4-3 away loss.
Over 2.5 goals is priced up at 1.3 while both teams to score is 1.47, so the market is expecting goals at both ends. Croatia have won four of their first six home league fixtures and conceded only 1.17 goals per-game. South Adelaide have not won any of their half-dozen away league fixtures, drawing one and losing five while leaking an average of 3.67 per-game away from home.
The last two head-to-head fixtures have each been won by a different team but the Raiders have not beaten South Adelaide in their back yard and they may have an extra bit of edge in this one.
