Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners Prediction and Betting Tips | January 3rd 2026

Adelaide United will host Central Coast Mariners at the Coopers Stadium on Saturday in another round of the 2025-26 Australian A-League campaign. The hosts will be keen to build on their recently found form to push higher up the league table.

Adelaide United needed a 93rd-minute winner from Jonny Yull to secure all three points in their 3-2 home victory over Western Sydney in their last outing, marking their fifth win of the season. The Reds, who finished last season in sixth place, have struggled for consistency across their 10 league matches this campaign but head into the weekend on the back of consecutive wins and will hope to get a result against a side in even worse form.

Central Coast Mariners are enduring an abysmal season in the Australian top flight, with just two wins from 10 matches so far, and will be desperate to return to winning ways when they travel to Adelaide. The visitors had hoped to snatch a point against Brisbane Roar despite a poor display but ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat after conceding Justin Vidic’s 92nd-minute header, extending their losing run to four games.

Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• Saturday's game will mark the 65th meeting between the two sides. Adelaide have won 29 of the previous 64 meetings, eight ended in a draw while Central Coast have won the remaining 27.
• The sides are evenly matched across their last five meetings, with both teams recording two wins apiece and one draw, and scoring five goals each.
• The hosts have the second-best defensive record in the Australian top flight this season, having scored 16 goals across 10 games played.
• Central Coast Mariners have the third-worst defensive record in the league having conceded 17 goals in just 10 games.

Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners Prediction

The Reds are strong favorites to get the win this weekend thanks to their stronger offensive quality and home advantage.

The Mariners will be satisfied to come away with a draw away from home but will have their work cut out for them if they are to manage that.

Prediction: Adelaide United 2-1 Central Coast Mariners

Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners Betting Tips

Tip 1 - Result: Adelaide United to win

Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals: (Five of the visitors' last six games have produced more than 2.5 goals)

Tip 3 - Both teams to score: Yes (Five of the visitors' last six games have featured both teams getting on the scoresheet)

Edited by Peter P