The Isuzu UTE A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 19 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 19.
*Bye: Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC
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Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, February 14 – AAMI Park – Kick-off 7.35pm AEDT
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Melbourne Victory dropped from third to sixth on the Isuzu UTE A-League table in Round 18 after a shock 3-0 loss to Newcastle Jets and will be challenged to respond on Friday night as they host Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.
Wellington haven’t won at AAMI Park in 22 games – a record that head coach Giancarlo Italiano will be eager to snap as his side travel across the ditch to face Victory in a repeat of last season’s Semi-Final showdown.
The Phoenix are currently 10th on the table, six points behind Victory in sixth and despite the disappointment of a Round 18 draw with bottom-placed Brisbane Roar, Wellington have now gone four games without defeat (one win, three draws) as they look to shrug off a poor mid-season run of five draws in six games to climb back into finals contention.
These two sides last met in Unite Round on November 24 when a goal to Phoenix striker Kosta Barbarouses led Wellington to a 1-0 win over Victory at Allianz Stadium.
Melbourne City v Perth Glory
Saturday, February 15 – AAMI Park – Kick-off 5pm AEDT
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An improved Perth Glory have the chance to exorcise some of their early-season demons on their travels to face Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday evening.
Glory lost 5-0 to City in November amid a torrid start to the 2024-25 campaign in which they lost six of their first eight games, drawing twice. Although David Zdrilic’s side continue to flounder in 12th position on the table, they have lost just two of their last five games heading into Round 19 and will hope to put on an improved performance this time around against a City side there to be challenged on recent form.
City enjoyed a brilliant start to the New Year, winning three straight games to surge to the top of the table – but have since lost three games on the spin to crash out of the top six.
Recent history suggests Saturday’s meeting at AAMI Park could be goalfest, with the last 12 meetings between City and Glory producing 52 goals.
Western United v Auckland FC
Saturday, February 15 – Ironbark Fields – Kick-off 6pm AEDT
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It’s third against first in Tarneit on Saturday night as Western United host league leaders Auckland FC at Ironbark Fields.
Auckland return to action after a Round 18 bye looking to win for the third consecutive game and extend their gap over second-placed Adelaide United to five points before the Reds take on Newcastle Jets in the latest kick-off on Saturday.
Western would have drawn to within five points of Auckland at the top had they defeated Macarthur Bulls in Round 18 but despite leading twice at Campbelltown Stadium, were forced to settle for one point in a 2-2 draw.
John Aloisi’s Western – who will be without star Angus Thurgate due to suspension – have been a surprise packet this season and have surged toward the top of the table thanks to a 10-game stretch that has produced six wins, two draws and just one loss. One of Western’s standout results of the season came against Auckland in Round 9; having gone unbeaten through their first seven games of the season, the Black Knights were crushed by Western in a 4-0 result to the visitors at Go Media Stadium.
Auckland will be without star midfielder Louis Verstraete on Saturday night as the Belgian serves a one-game suspension for the accumulation of five yellow cards, while centre-back Nando Pijnaker will be sidelined after suffering a moderate-grade ankle injury that will keep him out for three to four weeks.
Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, February 15 – Coopers Stadium – Kick-off 7.35pm AEDT
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Golden Boot contender Archie Goodwin goes up against his former side on Saturday night, as Adelaide United host Newcastle Jets at Coopers Stadium.
Goodwin joined the Reds from Newcastle in the off-season and has scored eight goals for Adelaide through 18 rounds to sit just one goal shy of the league’s Golden Boot leader Joe Lolley. Goodwin’s most recent goal came against Melbourne City in a 1-0 win last weekend – a result that brought the Reds to within two points of Auckland at the top of the table.
Newcastle are 11th on the Isuzu UTE A-League table but haven’t lost in three games, with their most recent result – a surprise 3-0 win over Melbourne Victory – instilling great confidence in Rob Stanton’s side ahead of their trip to Adelaide.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Macarthur Bulls
Sunday, February 16 – CommBank Stadium – Kick-off 5pm AEDT
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Macarthur Bulls could be without captain Valère Germain for Sunday’s trip to CommBank Stadium after the French striker was issued with a Disciplinary Notice after by Football Australia’s Match Review Panel (MRP) following an incident in last week’s draw against Western United.
The MRP has asked Germain to show cause why the offence of “Use of offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures against a Match Official” should not be found to have been committed against Western, and will reconvene on Tuesday afternoon to consider any submission made on behalf of the Bulls captain.
If the MRP elects to propose a sanction to Germain, the Frenchman’s absence would be a significant blow to the Bulls ahead of Sunday’s trip to Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Bulls are currently teetering on the edge of the top six, but could climb as high as third on the table with a win over the Wanderers, such is the tight nature of the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
With 25 points on the board, Macarthur sit level with fourth-placed Sydney and one point behind Western United, but are also within touching distance of eighth-placed Western Sydney who are just three points behind the Bulls heading into Round 19.
These two sides last met on New Year’s Day at CommBank Stadium where the Bulls emerged victorious thanks to a flurry of first-half goals that set up a 3-2 victory on the road. But all three of their goals in that fixture were scored by Jed Drew (two) and Ariath Piol – two forwards who have since departed the club for overseas opportunities.
The Wanderers return home to CommBank Stadium after a 3-3 draw with Sydney FC in Saturday night’s blockbuster Sydney Derby – a game they led 3-1 in the 87th minute before a late collapse that saw Alen Stajcic’s side squander the chance to seal three points and move to within one point of the top six.
