There are derbies galore scattered across an action-packed weekend of A-Leagues action.
Melbourne Victory took top spot in the race for the Club Championship after Round 1 of the Liberty A-League season, and Round 3 of the Isuzu UTE A-League campaign. But Victor’s men’s and women’s outfits are in for respectively stern tests this weekend against the club’s most bitter rivals.
There are Original Rivalry bouts and derbies of the Sydney and Melbourne varieties to look forward to as ten fixtures cram the schedule as the festive season heats up.
Here is your guide, in chronological order.
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Wellington’s disappointing 2-0 loss to the Wanderers in Round 3 was shrouded in VAR controversy, so you can expect Ufuk Talay’s side to put on an invigorated performance against the Jets on Friday night.
The bitter defeat put an end to Wellington’s club-record undefeated run of 13 games. But it won’t be easy for the ‘Nix to start anew against a Jets side buoyant after coming from two goals down to draw with Sydney FC last time out. Valentino Yuel was the star on the night with a magnificent second-half brace, and the Jets striker comes into Round 4 topping the Golden Boot charts.
Key stat: The Newcastle Jets are winless in their last nine Isuzu UTE A-League games at McDonald Jones Stadium (D2, L7), their joint-longest stretch without a win at the venue (also December 2014 to October 2015).
Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, December 10 2021
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Wellington’s maiden Liberty A-League fixture went off without a hitch in Round 1; a 0-0 draw with Western Sydney showing Gemma Lewis’ side are ready to fight for every point on offer this season. The ‘Nix travel to face a Jets outfit bruising from a 3-1 loss to Sydney FC, with substitute Lauren Allan showing determination to net her side’s only goal in an otherwise comfortable Sky Blues display.
Key stat: The Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix will meet in the A-League Women for the first time; the Jets have each of their last three games when it’s been the first time they’ve met an opponent in the competition.
Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, December 10 2021
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: BRISBANE ROAR v PERTH GLORY
Round 1’s most dramatic fixture repeats in Round 2 as Perth Glory travel to Queensland after scoring two late goals to flip the script and record a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar on Saturday night.
The Roar looked set to cruise to victory before unravelling at the death at Macedonia Park in Perth, conceding to Susan Phongsonkham before a glaring blunder from Roar keeper Georgina Worth saw three points disappear in a puff of smoke.
Perth went winless through the 2020/21 campaign, and after Alex Epakis’ side ensured that trend would end in the first round of the new campaign they’ll be out for more against a Brisbane outfit hellbent on enacting revenge at Perry Park.
Key stat: Perth Glory have picked up five wins and two draws in their last nine Liberty A-League games against Brisbane Roar FC (L2) and will be searching for back-to-back wins against them for the first time since November 2015 after picking up a 2-1 win in their last meeting (December 2021).
Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory
Friday, December 10 2021
Venue: Perry Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: WESTERN UNITED v BRISBANE ROAR
Former Roar striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls will look to haunt his former side whilst extending a two-game scoring streak which has helped Western United emerge as one of the early front-runners in the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Wenzel-Halls struck the decisive blow in consecutive 1-0 wins to hurtle United up the table, whilst former Roar teammate Jamie Young excelled in between the sticks to notch the same amount of clean sheets after three games.
Brisbane could have used Wenzel-Halls’ scoring prowess in Round 3; a 0-0 draw with Adelaide United begging for a striker to take the game by the scruff of the neck. So far winless in 2021/22, Warren Moon’s side will hope to take maximum points from this clash in Geelong.
Key stat: Western United FC have won their last two Isuzu UTE A-League games; the last time they won more in succession was a three-game streak in August 2020.
Western United v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, December 11 2021
Venue: GMHBA Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS v SYDENY FC
After a blistering 3-1 win over Newcastle Jets in Round 1, all the talk surrounded Sydney FC’s vicious attacking trio of Remy Siemsen, Cortnee Vine and Princess Ibini.
All three players put their names on the scoresheet in the impressive victory – but how will they fare against a Wanderers defence that kept its sheet clean in a 0-0 draw with the Phoenix in Round 1?
It’s a Sydney Derby clash between a finals hopeful and a title favourite as the Wanderers host the Sky Blues at CommBank Stadium.
Key stat: Sydney FC have won 15 of their 18 total games against Western Sydney Wanderers FC in the Liberty A-League (D1, L2); only against Adelaide United (85%) do they have a better win rate than against the Wanderers (83%).
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Saturday, December 11 2021
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
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READ: Tony G’s challenge to Matildas bolters
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS v MACARTHUR FC
His side may be undefeated three rounds into the Isuzu UTE A-League season, but Western Sydney’s Carl Robinson remains the most under-fire head coach in the league heading into Round 4.
The red and black fell to a shock loss to NPL outfit APIA Leichhardt in the FFA Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday night, heaping pressure back on the Wanderers boss and his charges after recording a first win of the season over Western Sydney in Round 3.
Macarthur fell to a 2-0 defeat to Sydney FC at the same stage of the FFA Cup on Wednesday evening, and will travel to CommBank Stadium without injured star Ulises Dávila. But a two-game winning streak in the Isuzu UTE A-League gives the Bulls reason to be confident about taking all three points home from CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.
Key stat: Macarthur FC will face Western Sydney Wanderers FC in the A-League Men for the third time having gone undefeated in their two previous encounters (W1, D1); they picked up a 1-0 win in their only previous encounter at CommBank Stadium (December 2020).
Western Sydney Wanderers v Macarthur FC
Saturday, December 11 2021
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED v MELBOURNE VICTORY
The Original Rivalry enters a new phase as Victory boss Tony Popovic looks to end the Reds’ recent domination of a bitter feud which dates back to the Isuzu UTE A-League’s inception.
The Reds have dominated the recent fixtures between these two longstanding rivals, with last year’s clash at Marvel Stadium producing an infamous Kusini Yengi goal celebration which will be lauded by Reds fans and scathed by the Victory faithful for years to come.
The Reds have drawn three games to start the season and need a three-point display to kickstart their campaign. Victory, meanwhile, are looking to steady the ship after a 3-0 defeat to Perth Glory on home soil stopped any momentum gained over the first two rounds of the season.
Key stat: Adelaide United have won seven of their last eight Isuzu UTE A-League games against Melbourne Victory (L1), including their last three on the bounce; they had won only two of their 17 encounters in the competition prior to that run (D5, L10).
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, December 11 2021
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE CITY v MELBOURNE VICTORY
The derbies continue on Sunday as Melbourne City host Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in a clash between two sides looking to extend perfect runs in Round 2 of the Liberty A-League season.
City won over Canberra United in Round 1 thanks to a Holly McNamara strike which clinched Goal of the Week honours for Round 1. Victory, meanwhile, reminded all watching on why they’re the reigning champions with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Adelaide United – however, the loss of captain Kayla Morrison to a season-ending ACL injury is a devastating blow for Jeff Hopkins’ side.
US international Lynn Williams will enter the fray to bolster Victory’s attacking stocks; not that it seemed particularly necessary for striking reinforcements to arrive after the five-star display in Round 1.
Key stat: Melbourne City have won three of their last four Liberty A-League games against Melbourne Victory (L1) after having won only one of their five meetings prior (L4); the two teams have never played out a draw in the competition.
Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
Sunday, December 12 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 1.05pm AEDT
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v SYDNEY FC
The Sky Blues are desperate to respond after three winless games to start the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign. Pressure is mounting for head coach Steve Corica to find solutions to his side’s sluggish start, with concerns mounting after the Sky Blues conceded a two-goal lead to eventually draw 2-2 against Newcastle Jets in Round 2.
Sydney FC travel to Gosford to meet the Mariners who, unlike last season, have not experienced the smoothest of starts to a new campaign. A Round 1 win over Newcastle Jets preceded defeats to Wellington and Macarthur which left Nick Montgomery’s side floundering in ninth spot on the table.
Key stat: Sydney FC have lost only one of their last nine Isuzu UTE A-League games against the Central Coast Mariners at Central Coast Stadium (W6, D2), scoring two or more goals in all but one of those nine games.
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Sunday, December 12 2021
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Kick-off: 6.20pm AEDT
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LIBETY A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED v CANBERRA UNITED
Two sides looking to bounce back from Round 1 defeats meet in the final Liberty A-League clash of Round 2, when the Reds welcome Canberra to Marden Sports Complex on Sunday evening. A late strike from Melbourne City’s Holly McNamara dealt Canberra a 1-0 loss to begin the campaign, whilst the Reds fell to a 5-1 defeat against Victory on the road.
Canberra’s frightening frontline led by Michelle Heyman is yet to get going in 2021/22, but against a porous Reds defence the CommBank Matildas legend will be eager to open her account in Round 2.
Key stat: Canberra United will be looking to avoid opening a Liberty A-League campaign with back-to-back defeats for just the second time and the first time since the 2009 campaign after a 1-0 loss to Melbourne City FC in matchweek 1 of this season.
Adelaide United v Canberra United
Sunday, December 12 2021
Venue: Marden Sports Complex
Kick-off: 6.30pm AEDT
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