The latest round of Isuzu UTE A-League action is upon us and there are plenty of mouth-watering match-ups to look forward. aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of all six clashes.
*Bye: Auckland FC
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Melbourne City v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, January 3 – 5pm AEDT
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Melbourne City head into their clash with Wellington Phoenix looking to get back to winning ways following their 1-1 draw with the Mariners on New Year’s Eve.
Currently sat in fifth spot, a win for City over the ‘Nix could see them temporarily move into second spot on the ladder and head coach Aurelio Vidmar will be hoping his side can handle the quick turnaround between games.
Already dealing with multiple injuries within his squad, Vidmar’s side travelled back to Melbourne on New Year’s Day and will have just one day’s preparation before then hosting Wellington.
As for the opposition, Giancarlo Italiano’s Wellington travel to AAMI Park off the back of a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets last time out.
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Currently sat 9th on the ladder, Italiano’s side find themselves two points outside the top six having played nine matches so far and will be hoping that win over the Jets will see them turn a corner heading into 2025.
Having previously lost three matches on the bounce against Auckland FC, Macarthur Bulls and Western Sydney Wanderers respectively, the Phoenix now have the somewhat daunting task of trying to get a win at AAMI Park – something they haven’t done in their last 22 visits to the venue.
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Friday, January 3 – Suncorp Stadium – 7:35pm AEDT
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Still without a win this season, Brisbane Roar will be hoping their barren run comes to an end on Friday night when they host Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium.
Most recently going down 1-0 to Western United at Ironbark Fields, Ruben Zadkovich’s side find themselves marooned at the bottom of the ladder having lost seven games so far this campaign.
With prodigious young forward Thomas Waddingham also now the subject of transfer speculation regarding a move to the English Championship, Roar will be looking to their leading light to help fire them to the three points on Friday night.
Meanwhile Mark Jackson’s Central Coast Mariners arrive in Queensland off the back of their 1-1 draw with Melbourne City at Industree Group Stadium on New Year’s Eve.
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A maiden Isuzu UTE A-League goal for Nathan Paull secured the point for the Mariners who now find themselves 10th on the ladder and still four points outside the Finals places.
Shorn of the spine which proved to be so key to their treble winning season of 2023-24, Jackson’s new-look side have struggled for consistency this campaign having won just two matches all season however they will fancy their chances of picking up another win against the league’s bottom side.
Perth Glory v Western United
Friday, January 3 – HBF Park – 9:45pm AEDT
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For the second week running Friday night football returns to HBF Park as Perth Glory host Western United in the late kick-off.
David Zdrilic’s side were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Macarthur Bulls last time out but will be hoping for a better outcome when they welcome John Aloisi’s Western to their home turf.
One player they will be without though is forward David Williams following confirmation the 36-year-old damaged his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) against Macarthur last week and will now miss the remainder of the campaign.
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Furthermore, the club has also announced the mutual termination of defender Luke Bodnar’s contract meaning they’ve now released Ecuadorian Luis Cangá, Colombian winger Cristian Caicedo and midfielder Mustafa Amini within the last few weeks.
Western United arrive in Western Australia buoyed by their recent 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar thanks to Hiroshi Ibusuki’s first half penalty.
After criticising his team’s attitude following their 3-1 home defeat to Melbourne Victory on December 1, Aloisi’s Western have since gone on to record a four-game unbeaten run and have now won their last three in a row.
Furthermore, Western have kept three clean sheets during that period and scored nine goals, rocketing them up into the Top Six and just three points off second spot.
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Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC
Saturday, January 4 – McDonald Jones Stadium – 5pm AEDT
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Newcastle Jets’ first game of 2025 sees them host Sydney FC in a hotly anticipated clash at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Rob Stanton’s side head into the latest round of Isuzu UTE A-League action sat in 11th spot on the ladder having most recently been defeated 2-1 by Wellington Phoenix.
With four losses in their last five matches the Jets will be hoping 2025 sees their fortunes improve however one bright spark of late has been the form of young striker Ben Gibson, who now has three goals in his last two matches.
Sydney FC arrive in the hunter region fresh off a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue on December 28.
A double from Joe Lolley and a late Jaiden Kucharski strike sealed an emphatic win over their rivals with Lolley deployed in a central striking role in the absence of the injured Patryk Klimala.
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However, head coach Ufuk Talay has been dealt big blue ahead of the game with news Brazilian star Douglas Costa will miss up to eight weeks after suffering a hamstring injury against Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne Victory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, January 4 – AAMI Park – 7:35pm AEDT
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Saturday night sees two giants clash at AAMI Park as Melbourne Victory welcome the Wanderers to Victoria.
Still searching for his first win since taking charge of Victory, head coach Arthur Diles faces a relatively short turnaround when it comes to preparing his players for this game having most recently returned from New Zealand where Victory secured a point against Auckland FC on New Year’s day.
With two draws and a loss from his first three matches in charge, Diles could well rotate his starting XI again as he contends with a busy festive fixture period having recently handed Bruno Fornaroli a start against Auckland – his first since Round 1.
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Key midfielder Zinedine Machach will be available again for selection after serving a one-game ban following his sending off against Sydney FC.
The Wanderers will line up at AAMI Park with Alen Stajcic back on the sideline after the head coach was slapped with a one-game ban following his red card against Adelaide United on December 27.
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In more good news, defender Gabriel Cleur will also be available for selection for the Wanderers after serving a one-game suspension due to collecting five yellow cards this season.
One big decision Stajcic is likely to have to make centres around the selection of FIFA World Cup Winner Juan Mata, following the veteran Spaniard’s good showing against Macarthur Bulls in their eventful 3-2 loss on New Year’s Day.
Handed just his third start of the campaign following confirmation of a season-ending injury to midfielder Dylan Scicluna, Mata put on a impressive display at CommBank Stadium, bagging his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal in the process.
Defeat though brought about an end to the Wanderers four-game unbeaten run which had seen them previously win three of their last four games.
Macarthur Bulls v Adelaide United
Monday, January 6 – Campbelltown Sports Stadium – 7pm AEDT
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Monday night football in the Isuzu UTE A-League promises to be a thrilling affair as second-placed Macarthur Bulls host third-placed Adelaide United in Campbelltown.
No doubt buoyed by their thrilling 3-2 win over local rivals Western Sydney Wanderers on New Year’s Day, Macarthur will be hoping to close the gap at the top to just two points to league-leaders Auckland FC who have the bye this weekend.
Unbeaten in their last six games and with three wins during that period, Mile Sterjovski’s Bulls have shown they’re a match for anyone in the league and have the goalscoring talents to show for it.
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Key to their recent excellent run of form has been winger Jed Drew, who with five goals and five assists in 10 games this season has certainly put himself on the radar of Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic.
Arriving in Sydney’s South West are Adelaide United, who take to the field for the first time this season having suffered a defeat.
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Previously unbeaten through eight rounds, Carl Veart’s side took a two-goal lead against Western Sydney Wanderers at Coopers Stadium only to then throw it away, ultimately losing 3-2 to record their first loss of the campaign.
Sat in third and level on 18 points with the Bulls, Adelaide will be hoping young forward Archie Goodwin can continue his hot-streak in front of goal which has seen him bag five goals in his last six appearances for the club.
Furthermore, the Reds also know that should they walk away victorious from Campbelltown Sports Stadium then they will finish the round in second spot, and subsequently breathing down the necks of Auckland FC.
