Game-by-game preview: What you need to know for Round 15 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 15 of the 2024-25 season.

Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 15.

*Bye: Perth Glory

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Western United v Newcastle Jets

Friday, January 17 – Ironbark Fields – 5:00pm AEDT

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Western United are the new Isuzu UTE A-League entertainers. Will there be more drama in Tarneit on Friday night?

John Aloisi’s Western are flying high after last week’s wild 4-3 win over Melbourne Victory that saw two stoppage-time goals complete a remarkable comeback at AAMI Park. With five wins in six matches, the Green and Black – fuelled by in-form Angus Thurgate and strike duo Hiroshi Ibusuki and Noah Botic – are sixth but only three points off the pace.

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While the Jets are yet to win at home in 2024-25, 11th-placed Newcastle have had success on the road, with their three victories coming away from McDonald Jones Stadium – against Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory and Macarthur Bulls.

This will be the first A-Leagues meeting between the two sides since Western United won 2-0 in February last season. In July’s Australia Cup play-off in Darwin, the Jets were 4-1 victors.

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Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners

Friday, January 17 – CommBank Stadium – 7:35pm AEDT

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Friday night is another chance for a resurgent Western Sydney Wanderers to inch closer to the top six, or even crack it.

Western Sydney are eighth but only three points outside of the finals positions having lost just one of their past seven matches. The Wanderers left Western Australia with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory on Tuesday and will have to back up three days later.

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Awaiting the Wanderers at CommBank Stadium will be two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners, who are 10th and seven points adrift of the top six. With just one win in six matches, the titleholders are need of maximum points.

The Mariners, albeit with a new-look team, will take heart from the fact they have won the past two games against the Wanderers, who have only managed one victory in the past eight meetings.

Auckland FC v Melbourne City

Saturday, January 18 – Go Media Stadium – 3:00pm AEDT

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Go Media Stadium will host a blockbuster on Saturday as Auckland FC host league-leading Melbourne City.

City top the table heading into the weekend, ahead of Adelaide United on goal difference, and one point clear of Auckland. However, the youthful Melbourne-based side have played one more match than both Adelaide and Auckland, who will be without star captain Hiroki Sakai due to concussion.

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After a history-making start to life in the A-Leagues, Auckland have one win in five games (L2 D2) after a shock loss away to lowly Perth Glory last time out, while City have claimed three victories on the bounce and are seven matches unbeaten.

There could be more drama between these two sides after December’s clash at AAMI Park saw Auckland snatch a 2-2 draw in the 95th minute.

Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar

Saturday, January 18 – Allianz Stadium – 5:00pm AEDT

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Sydney FC are in the top four. Can they stay there?

The Sky Blues are riding a six-game undefeated streak following Wednesday’s 0-0 draw away to Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium. That result put Sydney fourth in the standings on 21 points, along with Macarthur Bulls and Western United, though the former are ahead on goals scored and goal difference.

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Sydney have won three consecutive matches on home soil as they welcome winless Brisbane Roar to Allianz Stadium after November’s five-goal thriller at Suncorp Stadium, where Ufuk Talay’s side scored in the 90th minute to sink Ruben Zadkovich’s side.

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The Roar are six points adrift at the foot of the table as they eye their first win 2024-25, and Brisbane have not won away to Sydney in the league since 2018.

Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory

Saturday, January 18 – Coopers Stadium – 7:30pm AEDT

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An Original Rivalry matchup. It doesn’t get much bigger than this in the A-Leagues.

High-flying Adelaide United will host rivals Melbourne Victory in what is set to be a big crowd at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night. The Reds are only second in the standings on goal difference, while Victory are moving in the opposite direction.

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Victory are five games without a win and seventh in the table, two points outside of the top six, since Patrick Kisnorbo’s shock departure. They will, though, be buoyed by their form against Adelaide having not lost to their rivals since 2022 – a run of six games across all competitions.

This will also be Ben Folami’s first reunion with Victory since leaving for Adelaide at the start of 2024-25.

Macarthur Bulls v Wellington Phoenix

Monday, January 20 – Campbelltown Stadium – 7:00pm AEDT

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Macarthur Bulls are on the march and will be targeting another win when Giancarlo Italiano’s Wellington Phoenix come to town on Monday night.

With three wins in four games, the Bulls have roared into fifth spot – only three points off the summit as ninth-placed Wellington look to build on their draw with Sydney FC last time out.

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Jed Drew has been in fine form but Macarthur must address their home form if they are to continue their charge up the ladder. The Bulls are five matches without a win on home soil – they have not triumphed in Campbelltown since their opening-round 6-1 rout of Perth Glory.

As for Wellington, they have lost their last three games on the road, though the ‘Nix have won their past three meetings away to Macarthur.