- NWS Spirit FC have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 5 games.
- Blacktown City FC have won 4 and drawn 1 of their last 5 matches.
- In the last 3 meetings, Spirit have won 2 and Blacktown the other 1, all three games taking place in NPL New South Wales 2026, the most recent of which was a 1-0 home win for Blacktown City.
A tale of two styles
A meeting between NWS Spirit FC and Blacktown City FC is always a clash of contrasting styles. Spirit play an effective pressing game in the league, hunting turnovers in the highest areas of the pitch and creating fast-paced transition play.
Blacktown, by contrast, are a more pragmatic and physical side who try to stay solid, use the wings to good effect and have a fearsome forward pairing who will try to bully the backline. These two teams have played out some terrific games over the past few seasons, and this should be another.
Spirit have not been at their best in recent weeks though, with a 3 game losing streak currently ongoing following a 3-1 away loss to UNSW FC, a 0-4 home loss to Western Sydney Wanderers FC Youth and a 2-0 defeat away to Sydney United 58.
Sergio Malfara has done well to maintain Spirit's tempo-based identity and add some attacking pieces to the set-up, but the last three games have not been flattering to the team. Blacktown, by comparison, are on a 4 game winning streak and have looked terrific in their latest three outings, beating St George City 3-0 at home, Wollongong Wolves 2-0 away and Sydney FC Youth 4-2 at home.
Blacktown have the edge, but Spirit won’t go down easy
Blacktown City have failed to win on either of their last 2 visits to Spirit, so this won't be an easy trip. Spirit sit 13th in NPL New South Wales 2026 with 31 points from 26 games, whilst Blacktown City are 11th with exactly the same total, making this a real six-pointer.
Blacktown have won 4, drawn 5 and lost 4 of their 13 away games in NPL New South Wales 2026 this season, conceding just 22 goals on the road, so they will arrive here confident of holding firm against the Spirit's pressure.
At 2.38, 2.55 and 3.45 respectively, the odds are probably a little in favour of Spirit, but Blacktown are the more likely winner here. The recent form of the two sides and the fact Spirit have won 2 of the 3 previous meetings point to the visitors as the more convincing play.
Spirit are at their most dangerous when they can press, however, and this will be a close and tense game that could go either way. Both teams to score is much shorter at Yes 1.57, and Over 2.5 goals at 1.73 makes sense in what could be an open match if Spirit's press is successful.
