The Isuzu UTE A-League continues this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 16 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 16.
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Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Friday, January 24 – AAMI Park – 7.45pm AEDT
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Get ready for a high stakes affair as Melbourne Victory host Sydney FC in the second Big Blue of the season on Friday night.
Both teams are in desperate need of a win after last weekend’s results. Victory lost 3-2 to Adelaide United in the Original Rivalry, whilst Sydney FC fell to bottom-placed Brisbane Roar in the shock result of Round 15.
Failure to beat the Roar meant Sydney dropped out of the top four, and with just two points separating Ufuk Talay’s side from Victory in sixth, the Sky Blues face the prospect of tumbling out of the top six by the end of the weekend.
Victory, meanwhile, are out for their first win under new head coach Arthur Diles, who has overseen three defeats and three draws in his first six games in charge.
Having named new signing and Socceroo Mitch Langerak on his bench for last weekend’s loss to Adelaide, the veteran goalkeeper could make his first appearance for Victory since 2010 on Friday night in place of Jack Duncan who has donned the gloves in each of the club’s 13 games this season to date.
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, January 25 – Apollo Projects Stadium – 3pm AEDT
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Wellington Phoenix return to Christchurch for the first time in nine years on Saturday afternoon, to play host to Central Coast Mariners in a contest between two sides who roared back into form in Round 15.
The Mariners are in the midst of a five-game away trip; having already faced Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers on the road, Mark Jackson’s side now travel across the ditch to take on Wellington on Saturday.
The Mariners won just two games in the first 10 games this season but have since won two of three – including a surprise 3-1 triumph over the Wanderers last time out.
Much like the Mariners, Wellington arrive at Round 16 having turned momentum around of late. Giancarlo Italiano’s side lost five out of six games between Round 7-14 but have since drawn with Sydney FC and beat Macarthur Bulls; 19-year-old goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald has dislodged off-season signing Josh Oluwayemi in Wellington’s starting XI for their last two games and was the star of the show against Macarthur on Monday night, making eight saves in the comeback win.
Central Coast will hope to curtail the influence of Wellington striker Kosta Barbarouses who, against the Bulls, became just the fourth player in Isuzu UTE A-League history to score 100 league goals.
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
Saturday, January 25 – McDonald Jones Stadium – 5pm AEDT
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Perth Glory have the chance to jump Newcastle Jets into 11th spot on the table as the two bottom-six sides face off at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams have moved quickly in the transfer market since it opened on January 16th, with Glory adding Lachie Wales, Yuto Misao, Takuya Okamoto and Patrick Wood to their squad. The Jets, meanwhile, have signed Japanese international Kota Mizunuma from J1 League side Yokohama F.Marinos.
The two sides will hope new arrivals will contribute to an uplift in form heading into the second half of the season. For now, both the Jets and Glory will be fully focused on notching what would be a third win for the season if either side manage to claim three points.
Macarthur FC v Melbourne City
Saturday, January 25 – Campbelltown Sports Stadium – 7.35pm AEDT
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Both Macarthur and Melbourne City are looking to bounce back quickly from defeats in Round 16 as they face off at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bulls have had a wobble of late, losing two of three games after a six-game unbeaten run. City, meanwhile, had looked superb up to Round 15 with several academy products shining in the absence of injured stars on an unbeaten run of seven games. But, against top-four rivals Auckland FC, the inexperienced City side were dismantled in a 3-0 defeat in Round 15.
Now comes the second of three away games in a row for City, who were buoyed by Socceroos star Mathew Leckie’s return from injury last time out. Leckie came off the bench for Vidmar’s side in the 3-0 loss to Auckland and will look to build on his minutes in Campbelltown.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Auckland FC
Sunday, January 26 – CommBank Stadium – 5pm AEDT
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Can Western Sydney Wanderers close the gap to the top six this weekend when they take on Auckland FC?
The Wanderers sit three points outside of the finals places heading into the weekend, having wasted a glorious chance to draw level with both Macarthur FC (sixth) and Sydney FC (fifth) on 21 points in a shock defeat to Central Coast Mariners in Round 15.
New signing and Socceroos fullback Alex Gersbach is available for selection having recently joined the club however head coach Alen Stajcic revealed recently his side’s new addition is some way short of full fitness.
Auckland FC will hop on another plane as they make the flight up from Adelaide having played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with the Reds at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night.
A 100th minute equaliser from Logan Rogerson earned the Black Knights a deserved point in the top of the table clash and Steve Corica’s side know a win over the Wanderers will see them return to the summit.
