The Ninja A-League continues this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 8 of the 2024-25 season.
Once the Christmas festivities conclude, the weekend sees a host of exciting Ninja A-League fixtures, from a Big Blue and a mouth-watering showdown in Tarneit to a clash between two in-form teams.
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Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 8.
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Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, December 27th – Coopers Stadium 4:50pm kick-off AEDT
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History is certainly on Adelaide United’s side as they prepare to welcome Western Sydney Wanderers to Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
Adelaide have won six straight games against the Wanderers, dating back to March 2021. The Reds are also eight matches undefeated when playing Western Sydney, who last emerged triumphant in November 2019 when Kyra Cooney-Cross scored a 90th-minute winner.
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The Reds and the Wanderers have already met this season – Emily Condon and Fiona Worts, who is the league’s joint-leading scorer with six goals, were on target to inspire a 2-0 win in Western Sydney in November.
Fast forward to Round 8 and Adelaide are sixth and eight points behind leaders Melbourne City, while Western Sydney are four points further back and second from bottom.
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Friday, December 27th – HBF Park 8:00pm kick-off AEDT
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There is not much separating Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners in the Ninja A-League standings.
Perth are eighth in the table and just a point behind seventh-placed Central Coast, who are outside of the top six on goal difference heading into Friday night’s contest.
The Mariners have won three of the four previous meetings, with Perth’s solitary victory coming in December last year when former striker Millie Farrow – now playing for Sydney FC – scored twice.
This matchup will also see Glory goalkeeper Casey Dumont reunite with former side Central Coast after she played for the Mariners during their Semi-Final run in 2023-24.
Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, December 28th – Allianz Stadium 4:50pm kick-off AEDT
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A clash of the titans – the Big Blue rarely disappoints but Saturday’s showdown is shaping up a little different compared to previous seasons.
Sydney FC are the two-time reigning champions but the Sky Blues find themselves at the foot of the standings following a difficult start to 2024-25 and three consecutive defeats, while rivals Melbourne Victory are third and three points off the pace.
Ante Juric’s titleholders are much-changed from last season due to a number of key departures headlined by CommBank Matildas star Cortnee Vine and Jada Whyman. As for Victory, they are being spearheaded by in-form Australia international and joint-leading scorer Emily Gielnik.
The last time these two clubs met, Victory – who beat Sydney in the 2021 and 2022 Grand Finals – ran out 4-0 winners in March.
Melbourne City v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday, December 28th – ctrl:cyber Pitch 5:00pm kick-off AEDT
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Can Wellington Phoenix be the first team to beat Melbourne City this season?
Reigning premiers Melbourne City are the only unbeaten team remaining in 2024-25 but the Phoenix are surging ahead of a battle pitting two in-form teams against each other.
While City top the standings with five wins and two draws, Wellington are enjoying their best ever undefeated run which currently stands at four games as they sit fifth in the table.
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Saturday will also see City forward Mariana Speckmeier reunite with the Phoenix, where she impressed in her first season in the A-Leagues in 2023-24.
Canberra United v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, December 29th – McKellar Park 5:00pm kick-off AEDT
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Michelle Heyman v Tash Prior. Who will come out on top?
Sunday evening will see two CommBank Matildas team-mates go head-to-head as Heyman’s Canberra United welcome Prior’s Newcastle Jets to the nation’s capital.
Canberra have gone off the boil following an impressive start to the season, going five matches without a win to sit 10th in the standings, while 2023-24 semi-finalists Newcastle Jets are one point better off following a 6-1 rout at the hands of high-flying Brisbane Roar.
One thing that is almost guaranteed between these teams are goals. In the last six fixtures, the scores have been: 3-3, 4-3 (Newcastle), 3-0 (Canberra), 5-1 (Canberra), 3-0 (Canberra) and 3-3.
Western United v Brisbane Roar
Sunday, December 29th – Ironbark Fields 7:45pm kick-off AEDT
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Kahli Johnson v Laini Freier. Chloe Logarzo v Sharn Freier and Tameka Yallop. There are a lot of storylines and angles to look out for Sunday’s blockbuster clash.
It will be fourth versus second as Western United play host to red-hot Brisbane Roar at Ironbark Fields in Tarneit.
Western young gun and Young Matilda Johnson is coming off a two-goal haul amid her career-best season, while Laini Freier capped her first A-Leagues start with a hat-trick in Round 7 as Brisbane celebrated their biggest win in four years.
Then in terms of Matildas, Western captain Logarzo is set to take on familiar faces – fellow Australia internationals Sharn Freier and Roar legend Yallop.
