Game-by-game preview: What you need to know for Round 18 of the Isuzu UTE A-League

The Isuzu UTE A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 18 of the 2024-25 season.

Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 18.

*Bye: Auckland FC

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Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar

Thursday, February 6 – Sky Stadium – 3:00pm AEDT

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History is on Wellington Phoenix’s side as they look to close in on the top six against Brisbane Roar on Thursday night.

The Phoenix are 10th and six points adrift of the finals positions, though they have two games in hand on sixth-placed Macarthur Bulls.

Giancarlo Italiano’s Wellington will also take heart from the fact they have not lost to the Roar since March 2022 – a run of six matches. In fact, they have only lost one of their past 11 meetings with Brisbane.

As for bottom side Brisbane, they have only won once this season though that sole win came on the road against Sydney FC.

Adelaide United v Melbourne City

Friday, February 7 – Coopers Stadium – 7:35pm AEDT

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Can Adelaide United bounce back from last week’s heavy loss?

The Reds missed the chance to stay within two points of Auckland FC after being dismantled 4-1 by rivals Sydney FC. Second-placed Adelaide head back to Coopers Stadium on Friday night in a showdown with finals-chasing Melbourne City.

Spearheaded by Archie Goodwin (seven goals this season), goals are almost guaranteed in Adelaide, where the Reds have scored two or more goals in six straight games.

Standing in the way of Adelaide are seventh-placed City, who will be out to arrest a two-game losing streak which has seen the club fall outside of the top six on goal difference. They will also have to snap a run of back-to-back defeats away to the Reds, who have scored 10 goals in that span. City have not won in South Australia since December 2018.

Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners

Friday, February 7 – HBF Park – 9:45pm AEDT

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Central Coast Mariners will continue their top-six quest when they visit Perth Glory under the HBF Park lights on Friday night.

The two-time reigning champions are four points outside of the finals spots following a run of three consecutive draws as Abdul Faisal prepares to reunite with Perth after his recent departure.

Perth are 12th and 11 points behind Central Coast but will be buoyed by the fact they trumped the Mariners in their last meeting in Western Australia – a 2-0 victory in November 2023. Central Coast have not beaten the Glory in Perth since March 2021.

The key for Perth will be reigning Golden Boot winner and captain Adam Taggart, who has scored two of their last three goals.

Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory

Saturday, February 8 – McDonald Jones Stadium – 5:00pm AEDT

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Is this the week Newcastle Jets end their home drought?

The Jets are yet to claim maximum points at McDonald Jones Stadium this season, with all of Newcastle’s three wins in 2024-25 coming on the road.

They have the chance to to arrest that issue when high-flying Melbourne Victory come to town on Saturday evening. The 2023-24 Grand Finalists have won back-to-back games to surge into third position – 13 points better off than Newcastle, who have improved since the arrival of Kota Mizunuma and return of Lachie Rose.

The last meeting between the two sides ended 1-1 in February 2024, while Victory last prevailed in the Hunter region back in April 2022.

Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers

Saturday, February 8 – Allianz Stadium – 7:35pm AEDT

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Strap yourselves in folks, this is going to be fun.

Bragging rights will be on the line when Sydney FC play host to bitter-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers in Saturday night’s blockbuster derby – the third instalment of the mouth-watering fixture in 2024-25.

There is more than just bragging rights on the line, however. Sydney are fifth in the standings and only three points ahead of eighth-placed Western Sydney as both teams eye the Finals Series.

Sydney enter the contest having won the last four derbies.

Macarthur Bulls v Western United

Sunday, February 9 – Campbelltown Stadium – 5:00pm AEDT

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It is fourth versus sixth on Sunday evening.

Macarthur Bulls – who have cashed in on Jed Drew, Ariath Piol and Oliver Jones during the January transfer window – are clinging onto sixth spot, while high-flying Western United are fourth and climbing, although only one point separates the teams.

The Bulls have endured a topsy-turvy run of form having won two of their past five fixtures (L3) after going down to Auckland FC last week, while Western have only lost one of their last nine matches.

All eyes will be up front in a Golden Boot battle. Bulls captain Valere Germain and Western duo Noah Botic and Hiroshi Ibusuki have all scored seven goals this season to sit second in the goalscoring charts.