- SD Raiders U20 are on a slightly better form, scoring goals and winning points, than Rockdale Ilinden U20 this season.
- SD Raiders U20 are ranked 7th - 9th with ~27pts compared to Rockdale Ilinden U20's 14th with ~18pts.
- SD Raiders U20 are listed as slight favourites by the bookies but BTTS (Yes) seems an obvious call.
SD Raiders should have the momentum to edge Rockdale
SD Raiders U20 should have the quality to edge this clash and take the spoils on Sunday, although a goal-fest is unlikely to result. This is a local derby and both teams will be desperate to win and take bragging rights back to their respective club dressing rooms, with three points vital to SD Raiders U20's push for a finals spot and Rockdale's desperate attempts to stop themselves from being sucked into the lower half. Rockdale boss Steve Bozinovski and his coach Spase Najdoski have not had an easy task developing their club's culture and their high-tempo, possession-based approach with its trademark high-pressing and build-up from the back has yet to get them consistent results this season. Rockdale have won just one, drawn two and lost three of their last six in all competitions and their attack will have to be at their best again if Marcus Nacovski, Josh Le Maire and Sebastian Jovcevski can get at the Raiders defence on Sunday.
SD Raiders have the pace and precision to nick a narrow win
SD Raiders boss Goran Ljuboja has led this club with a great degree of tactical discipline this term and his players-first ethos has meant his charges have been well organised and ready for battle every game. SD Raiders have hit a purple patch of form, winning against UNSW U20 and Sydney Olympic U20, and have averaged 1.5 - 1.6 goals per-game in total so far this term. But this game may not be won by whoever scores the most goals.
The visitors will favour a more compact, technical style of play, rotating their frontline and favouring fast transitions, particularly on the counter-attack where they have the precision and pace to really hurt the hosts if they get the ball in advanced positions.
Rockdale will be looking for revenge after losing to SD Raiders 1-0 in February, and with a bit of an edge to the fixture, this one could be won by the team that dictates the tempo and capitalises on turnovers.
Cloudy skies and showers will suit the more disciplined team
The bookies have it mostly right when it comes to this match-up, with SD Raiders U20 listed as the slight favourites at 2.4, with Rockdale at 2.38 and the draw at 3.64. A 1X2 bet on the visitors looks like the best way to make money at the moment, given SD Raiders' recent form, superior league position and the fact they won the head-to-head back in February.
However, I will be backing BTTS (Yes) at 1.36 because of the nature of the game. The last two clashes have been low-scoring affairs and with BTTS (No) currently listed at 2.62, under 2.5 goals is an interesting alternative to the BTTS bet.
