The Isuzu UTE A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 28 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 28.
*Bye: Central Coast Mariners
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Macarthur Bulls v Melbourne Victory
Friday, April 25 – Campbelltown Sports Stadium – 7:35pm AEST
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Friday night’s home clash against Melbourne Victory is shaping as do-or-die for Macarthur Bulls in their pursuit of playing finals football this season.
Currently sat eighth on the ladder, the Bulls find themselves four points outside the top six with just two games left to play and they also now require results elsewhere to go in their favour.
Recording a 2-2 draw with Central Coast last time out, the Bulls will be hoping in-form striker Harrison Sawyer can continue his hot streak of four goals in his last three games as Mile Sterjovski’s side look to topple the side currently occupying fifth spot on the ladder.
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Victory head into the clash having most recently been defeated by league-leaders Auckland FC 2-0 at AAMI Park but they know a win here will guarantee them a spot in the finals.
With 39 points on the board they’re currently just two clear of Adelaide United in seventh spot however the Reds can reach a maximum of 40 points this season and have a significantly worse goal difference.
The good news for Victory is that they’ve won five of the nine meetings between these two sides and are unbeaten in their last three trips to Campbelltown.
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday, April 26 – Suncorp Stadium – 3pm AEST
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Brisbane Roar are certainly ending the Isuzu UTE A-League campaign in a positive run of form having beaten Western United and drawn with Adelaide in their last two games.
Key to their turnaround has no doubt been mid-season signing Asumah Abubakar who, with four goals in nine games, has been one of the signings of the season and will no doubt have plenty of clubs interested ahead of next season.
On the other side of the equation are Wellington Phoenix who head into the clash at Suncorp Stadium having lost their last outing in the league 3-2 at Coopers Stadium against Adelaide.
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Still without a contract for next season, Nix head coach Giancarlo Italiano will take charge of his final away game of the season as talks continue surrounding his long-term future at the club.
When it comes to the recent meetings between these two sides it’s very much Wellington Phoenix who have been the dominant side having won five and drawn four of the last 10 matches.
Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, April 26 – McDonald Jones Stadium – 5pm AEST
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The Newcastle Jets will run out at McDonald Jones Stadium for the final time this season when they host high-flying Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday evening.
The Jets coughed up a two-goal lead last time out against Sydney FC and walked away from Allianz Stadium empty handed after losing 3-2 however the last time they played at McDonald Jones Stadium it was a very different story; beating rivals Central Coast Mariners 6-0.
Furthermore, head coach Rob Stanton will be taking charge of his final home before departing at season’s end as his two-year tenure comes to a close.
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For Western Sydney, head coach Alen Stajcic and his charges know a win for them will guarantee them a spot in this year’s finals series but that’s not all that’s at stake.
A win this weekend, coupled with a loss or draw for Western United, will see the Wanderers finish the round in third on the ladder and, pending a loss for second-placed Melbourne City, could also see them battling it out for second spot in the final round of the season.
Star attacker Nicolas Milanovic will be hoping to steal a march in the race for the Golden Boot this season given he currently sits second on the ladder with 12 goals – one behind co-leaders Adrian Segecic and Archie Goodwin (13 goals).
Melbourne City v Adelaide United
Saturday, April 26 – AAMI Park – 7:35pm AEST
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Melbourne City head into their home clash with Adelaide United on Saturday night knowing a win could see them wrap up second spot on the ladder and with it, qualification into next season’s AFC Champions League Elite.
Currently sat second on the ladder and five points behind Auckland FC, victory for Aurelio Vidmar’s side coupled with a draw or loss for Western United on Sunday would see them finish at least second, while a win for City would also keep their faint Premiership hopes alive, albeit they would require the Black Knights to lose at home to bottom-placed Perth Glory on Sunday afternoon to keep the race alive until the final round of the season.
As for Adelaide United the task for Carl Veart and his side is simple in what is their final game of the season.
Currently sat seventh on the ladder and level on points with Sydney FC in sixth, the Reds have the bye on the last weekend of the season so realistically will need to win this weekend and hope the Sky Blues lose their final two games of the season against Western United (A) and Melbourne City (A).
Further complicating things for the Reds is the fact their Goal Difference (-2) is significantly worse than that of Sydney FC (+12) which could be a defining factor come the end of the season.
Auckland FC v Perth Glory
Sunday April 27 – Go Media Stadium – 3pm AEST
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It could well be party time BEFORE kick-off at Go Media Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Auckland FC will have clinched the Premiership on Saturday night if Melbourne City fail to beat Adelaide United.
That said, the Black Knights only need a draw against bottom side Perth Glory in the penultimate round of the season to secure the Premiers Plate, regardless of what Melbourne City do against Adelaide.
Should Auckland FC secure the season’s first piece of silverware then it will represent a milestone moment in the Isuzu UTE A-League’s 20-year history given it will be the first time a New Zealand club has won either the Premiership or Championship.
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As for Perth Glory, David Zdrilic’s side have two games left in a bid to avoid a second-straight wooden spoon.
Currently propping up the rest of the ladder, the Glory have 14 points to their name and are in a battle with Brisbane Roar (15 points) when it comes to climbing off the foot of the table.
Following their trip to Auckland, Glory then head to the south of New Zealand’s north island to take on Wellington Phoenix in the final game of the season.
Western United v Sydney FC
Sunday April 27 – Ironbark Fields – 5pm AEST
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Beaten 2-1 by Brisbane Roar last time out, Western United’s hopes of securing a second-placed finish, and with it continental football, are now hanging by a thread.
John Aloisi’s side currently sit third on the ladder – three points behind second-placed Melbourne City – and know that they’re likely to have to win both of their remaining matches whilst also needing a slip up from City along the way.
Back-to-back away defeats against Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar respectively have stunted Western’s recent progress but with a forward line packed full of goals in the form of Noah Botic (11) and Hiroshi Ibusuki (10) they’ll still be confident of causing Sydney FC plenty of problems.
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As for the Sky Blues, Ufuk Talay’s team will also know exactly what’s a stake for them when they take to the field in Tarneit on Sunday.
Currently occupying sixth spot heading into the penultimate round of the season, Sydney FC will be sure of a spot in the finals should Macarthur lose on Friday night against Melbourne Victory and Adelaide lose to Melbourne City on Saturday given they have a far superior goal difference to the Reds.
However, should both those two sides win their respective matches the Sky Blues know that a win over Western United will still eliminate the Bulls from the finals picture and a return of four points in the final two matches will guarantee them a spot in the post-season.
