The Isuzu UTE A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 21 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 21.
*Bye: Newcastle Jets
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Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City
Friday, February 28 – Sky Stadium – 5:30pm AEDT
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Wellington Phoenix are a team wounded after their derby demolition at the hands of rivals Auckland FC but they have the chance to bounce straight back against Melbourne City in the club’s fight to reach the finals.
Last week’s 6-1 rout in Auckland left Wellington 11th and nine points outside of the top six, with Friday’s opponents City occupying the sixth and remaining Finals Series spot.
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The Phoenix are four games without a win (D2 L2), but will take heart from the fact they beat City the last time the Melbourne-based team visited Wellington in November 2023 (1-0).
As for City, they have Socceroos pair Mathew Leckie and Marco Tilio back and impressing, after coming off a 2-2 draw with rivals Melbourne Victory. They could, though, potentially end the weekend as high as second.
Central Coast Mariners v Western United
Friday, February 28 – Industree Group Stadium – 7:35pm AEDT
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Can Western United continue their surge up the standings while heaping further misery on two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners?
Western – led by joint-Golden Boot leader Noah Botic – outclassed second-placed Adelaide United 3-0 last time out to move third and close within two points of the Reds, and this weekend presents the opportunity for the Green and Black to leapfrog the South Australian outfit.
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Central Coast are coming off a 4-0 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers and are seven points adrift of the top six. However, history is on the side of the Mariners.
The Mariners are eight games unbeaten against Western (W6 D2), dating back to their last defeat to the 2022 champions in April 2021. In fact, Western have never beaten Central Coast in Gosford.
Auckland FC v Adelaide United
Saturday, March 1 – Go Media Stadium – 3:00pm AEDT
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Auckland FC are back at Go Media Stadium on Saturday and with the chance to take another giant step towards securing the Premiership.
The high-flying Black Knights emphatically dispatched of Wellington in the New Zealand Derby and next up is a top-two showdown against an Adelaide side who have managed just one win in five games.
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Fuelled by hat-trick hero Logan Rogerson, Auckland could see their lead atop the table to stretch to as much as 11 points depending on results across the weekend.
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Still without quartet Luka Jovanovic, Panagiotis Kikianis, Fabian Talladira and Jonny Yull due to their international commitments with the Young Socceroos at the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup, Adelaide will be hoping to welcome back Dylan Pierias and Ryan Kitto.
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, March 1 – Suncorp Stadium – 5:00pm AEDT
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Brisbane Roar are all but out of the finals race but they can still play a huge role in shaping the outlook of the top six.
Bottom of the standings, Brisbane have not won at home all season. In fact, the Roar’s last win on home soil came against 2023-24 Grand Finalists Melbourne Victory in March last year thanks to a Marco Rojas double.
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A lot has changed since then, especially for Victory – who are onto their third coach following the departures of Tony Popovic and Patrick Kisnorbo and chasing the top two. Arthur Diles’ side are fourth and two points behind Adelaide, while they are 10 adrift of Auckland having lost just one of their past five fixtures.
While Brisbane sit at the foot of the table, they welcome Victory to Suncorp Stadium knowing they have not lost to the club on home soil since October 2019.
Macarthur Bulls v Sydney FC
Saturday, March 1 – Campbelltown Sports Stadium – 7:35pm AEDT
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There is plenty on the line as Macarthur Bulls play host to rivals Sydney FC on Saturday night.
Both Macarthur and Sydney are on the outside looking into the top six after 18 games. The Bulls are eighth and three points adrift, while the star-studded Sky Blues are a point better off in seventh.
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It is a period of change somewhat for Macarthur, who are three games without a win and boast a new-look forward line following the departures of captain Valere Germain, Jed Drew and Ariath Piol, as well as defender Oliver Jones.
Sydney, meanwhile, are through to the AFC Champions League Two quarter-finals but have only one win in six A-Leagues matches.
History is on the side of the Bulls, who have won four of the last five meetings, including November’s showdown 2-1.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory
Sunday, March 2 – CommBank Stadium – 5:00pm AEDT
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Western Sydney Wanderers were red hot last week. Can they carry that form back to CommBank Stadium in pursuit of the Finals Series?
The Wanderers blitzed Central Coast Mariners to extend their unbeaten run to four games as they climbed up to fifth and within three points of Adelaide United. Playing at home has not been straightforward, however, with just one win in their last four fixtures in Parramatta.
With Nicolas Milanovic suspended due to picking up five yellow cards, forward Zac Sapsford will lead the attack alongside Brandon Borrello while Spanish superstar Juan Mata could also be restored to the Western Sydney starting line-up as they bid to extend their undefeated streak.
While second from bottom and without a win in six matches since stunning Auckland, there have been big signs of improvement for Perth Glory, who held Sydney to a draw last time out.
