A-League Men R2 Preview: Match details, tickets, what you need to know

The Isuzu UTE A-League is back this weekend after a memorable opening round and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 2 of the 2024-25 season.

Who is ready for some more A-Leagues football – headlined by a Melbourne Derby?

Melbourne City’s showdown with rivals Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park headlines the Round 2 fixtures. There is also a reunion in Auckland while Adelaide United kick-off their 2024-25 campaign after a bye as Western United welcome a superstar to Tarneit.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO ROUND 2 OF THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE SEASON!

Friday, 7:35pm (AEDT): Macarthur Bulls v Newcastle Jets

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Can Macarthur make it two wins from two games? The Australian Cup champions are coming off a 6-1 humbling of Perth Glory at Campbelltown in Round 1.

Marin Jakolis was the star of the show with a brace on his Bulls debut in the A-Leagues.

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Campbelltown is once again the venue for Friday night’s visit of Rob Stanton’s youthful Newcastle Jets, who were edged out 1-0 by Melbourne City in their opener.

The Jets head into the fixture buoyed by their four-game unbeaten streak against Macarthur, dating back to July 2023.

Saturday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners

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Adelaide United had the bye in Round 1, so they were able to sit back and watch the action unfold. Now it is their turn against two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners at Coopers Stadium.

The Reds, who missed the Finals in 2023-24, have a bunch of new faces this season as they introduce ‘safe standing’ at the venue on Saturday evening.

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Adelaide kicked off last season with a 3-0 win over the Mariners, who then went on to claim the next two fixtures 2-0 and 4-0 respectively.

Central Coast played out a 0-0 draw with Melbourne Victory in their Grand Final rematch last week before going down 3-2 to Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday night.

Saturday, 7:35pm (AEDT): Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory

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Get your popcorn ready, Saturday night’s 46th Melbourne Derby should be fun!

There is plenty of storylines wherever you look. Patrick Kisnorbo reunites with Melbourne City, where he won a Championship and two Premierships, as head coach of Melbourne Victory.

Plenty of Socceroos will be on show under the Melbourne lights – from City skipper Aziz Behich to Victory trio Jason Geria, Nishan Velupillay and Daniel Arzani.

Bruno Fornaroli started for Victory against the Mariners in Gosford at the expense of Nikos Vergos. Will he get the nod again in the match against his former side?

City will be without suspended midfielder James Jeggo.

Saturday, 9:45pm (AEDT): Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix

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It was a forgettable start to the season for David Zdrilic’s Perth Glory but they are back in the comforts of their home for the ‘Distance Derby’ against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday night.

While the result was painful, there were some talented Perth youngsters on show – Adam Bugarija scored on debut, Abdelelah Faisal made his A-Leagues bow and Andriano Lebib started his first game.

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Giancarlo Italiano’s new-look Wellington were held to a 1-1 draw by Western United at Sky Stadium, where Kosta Barbarouses was on target as academy player Nathan Walker made an unexpected debut.

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Last season’s Semi-Finalists Wellington are 10 games unbeaten against the Glory.

Sunday, 2:00pm (AEDT): Auckland FC v Sydney FC

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Sky Blues legend Steve Corica will reunite with his former club Sydney FC when Auckland FC host the five-time champions at Go Media Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Corica won two Championships and a Premiership as a player for Sydney before claiming another two Championships and a Premiership during his coaching tenure in the Harbour City.

Now, he is in charge of A-Leagues debutants Auckland, who made history in their first match last week – a 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar in front of a sell-out crowd.

Star-studded Sydney, meanwhile, make the trip to Auckland from Japan following AFC Champions League Two commitments, having earned bragging rights over Western Sydney Wanderers last week.