The Isuzu UTE A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 26 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 26.
*Bye: Macarthur Bulls
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Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar
Friday, April 11– AAMI Park – 7:35pm AEST
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Melbourne City will be looking to close the gap on league leaders Auckland FC this weekend when they host Brisbane Roar on Friday night.
Currently sat third on the ladder, City will leapfrog Western and move into second spot with a win, whilst they’ll also move to within three points of Auckland.
Aurelio Vidmar’s side have showcased their flexibility in recent weeks having beaten Sydney fC 3-2 in a blistering clash at Allianz Stadium before then grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Central Coast last time out.
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With young gun Medin Memeti firing on all cylinders, Vidmar will be further buoyed by the fact Israeli international forward Yonatan Cohen is now fit again to join the attack having featured off the bench last time out.
As for Brisbane Roar, Ruben Zadkovich’s side will be out to right the wrongs of their last game in the Isuzu UTE A-League; a 5-1 home loss to Macarthur Bulls.
That heavy loss for the Roar leaves them level on points with bottom side Perth, albeit above them on goal difference. A bright spot for the Queenslanders will be the recent performances of January loan signing Asumah Abubakar, who scored a spectacular goal in defeat to the Bulls.
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, April 12 – Sky Stadium – 3pm AEST
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With their 77-day winless run now over, Wellington Phoenix are out to secure back-to-back wins for just the second time this season when they face Melbourne Victory on Saturday.
The Nix defeated Victory 1-0 in the first meeting between the two sides earlier this season and head coach Giancarlo Italiano will be hoping his side can put on a show for their home fans in what is their penultimate home game of the season.
After having the bye last time out, Melbourne Victory head to Sky Stadium knowing this clash could have huge significance on their hopes of playing finals football this season.
Currently sat fifth on the ladder, Victory hold a three-point buffer over seventh-placed Adelaide United and know a win against the 11th placed Nix could see them finish the round as high as fourth with just three games left in the regular season.
Sydney FC v Auckland FC
Saturday, April 12 – Allianz Stadium – 5pm AEST
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Sydney FC will have a short turnaround for their clash with league leaders Auckland FC following their midweek exertions in the ACL Two.
Beaten 2-0 by Singaporean side Lion City Sailors on Wednesday night, the Sky Blues return from Southeast Asia on Thursday before then turning their attentions to Saturday’s monster clash at Allianz Stadium.
Currently sat sixth on the ladder care of their dramatic 3-2 win over Adelaide United in Round 25, the Sky Blues could finish the round as high as fourth provided they beat the Black Knights and other results go their way.
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As for table-toppers Auckland FC, they arrive in the Harbour City knowing a win over the Sky Blues could well see them put one-hand on the Premier’s Plate.
Five points clear of Western United with four games left to play, a second victory of the season for Steve Corica against his old side could see them finish the round as much as eight points clear of their title rivals provided Melbourne City and Western United drop points.
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, April 12 – McDonald Jones Stadium – 7:35pm AEST
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With both sides set to miss out on playing finals football this season, local bragging rights are very much up for grabs when it comes to these two sides.
The ninth-placed Jets are one point clear of the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions heading into Round 26, and will be out to defeat their rivals at home for the first time since 2020.
Meanwhile the Mariners head up the F3 looking to exact some form of revenge against their rivals after they were held to a 2-2 draw by the Jets in their last meeting.
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Beaten 1-0 by Melbourne City in Round 25, the Mariners are currently 10th on the table and on course for their lowest regular season finish since the 2019-20 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
However, the good news for Mark Jackson’s side is the fact they’ve not suffered defeat against the Jets in their last seven encounters.
Perth Glory v Adelaide United
Saturday April 12 – HBF Park – 9:45pm AEST
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Perth Glory host Adelaide United on Saturday evening in a game that is likely to have huge ramifications at both ends of the ladder.
Propping up the rest of the ladder, the Glory are desperately trying to avoid a second-straight wooden spoon and while they are level on points with Brisbane Roar, David Zdrilic’s team have played two games more and have a significantly worse goal difference.
Furthermore, the former Sydney FC assistant won’t be able to call upon young winger Joel Anasmo for the remainder of the season after he agreed to join Korean side Jeonbuk Motors on a deal until June.
Reports initially emerged before the Reds’ 3-2 home loss to Sydney FC in Round 25 – a result which saw Adelaide drop out of the top six at the expense of the Sky Blues.
However, whilst they may have lost their last three matches and are seven games without a win, the good news for Veart and his side is that they face a beleaguered Perth side this weekend whilst Sydney take on league leaders Auckland.
Furthermore, whilst there are no easy games in the Isuzu UTE A-League the Reds have a favourable run home towards finals compared to their rivals with games against Perth, Brisbane Roar, Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne City to come; City being the only side who can play finals football.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United
Sunday, April 13 – ComBank Stadium – 5pm AEST
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The final game of Round 26 sees two goalscoring machines go head-to-head at CommBank Stadium as Western Sydney Wanderers take on Western United.
Sat fourth on the ladder with four games left to play the Wanderers have hit a sweet spot under head coach Alen Stajcic and are currently enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run.
Whilst they may have drawn their last two matches, the league’s top goalscorers won four-straight prior to those draws against Wellington and Auckland respectively – a run of form which has propelled them into a prime position when it comes to securing a home elimination final.
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As for Western United, John Aloisi’s side head to Western Sydney as the form team in the competition having won their last five games in a row.
Furthermore, with the likes of Noah Botic and Hiroshi Ibusuki fit and firing Western (49) are now just one goal behind the Wanderers (50) when it comes to goals scored – a tally which has been supercharged of late given they’ve scored 19 goals in their last five matches.
This fixture has certainly been evenly matched over the years with the Wanderers winning five of the last 10 meetings compared to Western’s four victories in this fixture – the only draw coming earlier this season (1-1).
