Here. We. Go.
Kick off to the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season is no longer months away, nor is it weeks or days. In a mere amount of hours, the first whistle blows.
The scene is set: Melbourne City are the reigning Champions, Melbourne Victory the spooners. Paramount+ and Channel 10 are the broadcasters, and you are the most important part of it all: the fan.
Let’s get this show on the road. Here’s what’s at stake in Round 1 of the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season, and how you can watch every last second of it unfold.
Key stats collated by Stats Perform.
Saturday, November 19: Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
The storyline
Fans will flock to CommBank Stadium to see these two great rivals resume battle.
Sydney FC are bruising after experiencing Grand Final defeat, and have a largely unchanged squad ready to harness the pain and turn it into motivation to gun for a third Championship in four seasons. The Wanderers, meanwhile, have recruited strongly under head coach Carl Robinson with the intention of flying up the ladder to end a four-season Finals Series absence.
Sydney Derby victory will provide either of these two clubs the platform to launch into the season. Mental wins are huge for any side with a point to prove, and there’s no better way to strengthen mentality than beating the team next door.
The key stat
Western Sydney Wanderers are undefeated against Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium in the Isuzu UTE A- League (W2, D1), despite having had a different manager in each of those three games (Markus Babbel, Jean-Paul De Marigny, Robinson).
Why to watch
It’s an historic night for football broadcasting in Australia.
An exciting new broadcast innovation every Saturday night will allow fans watching on Channel 10 and 10 Play to enjoy expert commentary, highlights and analysis from one match, with a simultaneous kick off streaming on Paramount+.
There’ll be crosses between CommBank Stadium and GMHBA Stadium as Western United host Melbourne Victory at the same time as the Sydney Derby. Live goal updates will be shared from both games and the opportunity will arise to experience dynamic multi-screen viewing across Network 10 and Paramount+.
Match Details – Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Saturday, November 20 2021
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Match Centre | Buy Tickets | How to Watch
READ: Jack Rodwell signs for Wanderers
Saturday, November 20: Western United v Melbourne Victory
The storyline
The first instalment of ‘The Battle of the Bridge’ comes to you in Round 1 of the 2021/22 season.
Both sides have new a head coach at the helm: Melbourne Victory are led by Tony Popovic, the manager renowned for achieving instant success at each Isuzu UTE A-League club he takes command of. In the other dugout is Socceroos legend John Aloisi, back for his third crack at management in the league after stints at both Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Heart (now City).
The key stat
Western United come into this game on the back of an eight-game losing streak in the competition; only three times in Isuzu UTE A-League history has any team lost more in succession (New Zealand Knights – 11 in 2005; Central Coast Mariners – 11 in 2020; Mariners – 10 in 2018/19).
Why to watch
After all the talk, the signings, the departures and the upheaval, both of these new head coaches – Popovic and Aloisi – get to put the speculation to bed and let their respective teams do the talking.
How will the new signings bed in? Which formations will be used? Is the air of optimism surrounding both sides warranted? There’s only one way to find out.
Match Details – Western United v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, November 20 2021
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Venue: GMHBA Stadium
Match Centre | Buy Tickets | How to Watch
Saturday, November 20: Perth Glory v Adelaide United
The storyline
Daniel Sturridge debuts on the Saturday night late show.
The former English international is a two-time UEFA Champions League winner, a prolific English Premier League goalscorer, and has one of the most recognisable names in world football.
In 2021/22 he’s Perth Glory’s star.
Tipped to feature off the bench against the Reds after his recent emergence from hotel quarantine, Sturridge has one chance to announce himself to his home crowd before Perth embark on an extensive road trip. Expect a festival atmosphere at HBF Park as the Glory faithful welcome their side into the new campaign, with an Adelaide side buoyed by its surge to the 2020/21 Semi Finals ready to spoil the party in Perth.
The key stat
Perth Glory have won six of their last seven Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures against Adelaide United (L1), and four games on the bounce the Reds at HBF Park.
Why to watch
Glory kicked off the 2020/21 campaign at home against the Reds, and it ended 5-3 in the home side’s favour on that night at HBF Park. With the firepower on show on Saturday night, there’s no reason why a similar score can’t be repeated.
The home side boast the goalscoring prowess of both Sturridge and Bruno Fornaroli, with Spanish striker Adrian Sardinero arriving to offer Richard Garcia a skillset not yet known to defenders around the league. In the Red corner, you have man-mountain Kusini Yengi preparing to lead the line, complimented by the damaging wing play of both Craig Goodwin and Ben Halloran down the left and right flanks.
It’s a fixture which screams ‘goals’ when you consider the attacking firepower on display.
Match Details – Perth Glory v Adelaide United
Saturday, November 20 2021
Kick-off: 10.05pm AEDT
Venue: HBF Park
Match Centre | Buy Tickets | How to Watch
Sunday, November 21: Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
The storyline
The derbies roll onto Sunday afternoon as the Jets and Mariners lock horns at McDonald Jones Stadium.
It’s a first taste of F3 Derby action as a head coach for Nick Montgomery, who takes charge of the Mariners after captaining the Gosford side in his playing days.
It’s a new experience for Jets boss Arthur Papas, too. His first fixture at the helm comes on a derby day set to quickly introduce him to the rigours of an Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
The key stat
The Newcastle Jets have opened five of their last eight Isuzu UTE A-League seasons with a defeat (W2, D1), with two of those losses coming against the Central Coast Mariners on the day.
Why to watch
One of the longest-standing rivalries in league history comes to a boil at McDonald Jones Stadium, between two sides eager to find consistent success in a league in which they’ve far too often wilted in recent seasons. If either the Jets or Mariners plan to put words into action, Round 1 is the time to start.
You tuned in for the season’s kick-off on Friday night. You watched two derbies unfold in simulcast on Saturday night, and tuned in for Sturridge’s Isuzu UTE A-League bow. Why not have a Sunday serving as well?
Match Details – Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday, November 21 2021
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Match Centre | Buy Tickets | How to Watch
Sunday, November 21: Macarthur FC v Wellington Phoenix
The storyline
After departing Wellington for Macarthur in the off-season, it only made sense for Ulises Dávila to find himself facing his former side in Round 1 of the new campaign. Emotions will run high as ‘Nix fans see their former star – who produced countless memories for Wellington fans across a two-season stint – lining up in Bulls colours on Sunday, November 21.
Camped out in Wollongong for the start of the 2021/22 season, Wellington start yet another Isuzu UTE A-League season in trying circumstances. But watch out for Ufuk Talay’s Phoenix side. Dealt challenges and obstacles at every turn through two tumultuous seasons, the New Zealand outfit have shown sheer resilience to overcome it all, and play attractive, entertaining football in the process. Write them off at your peril.
The key stat
Last season, Wellington Phoenix were the only team not to make a single error leading to a goal, while they made just two errors leading to shots.
Why to watch
Macarthur fans will be eager to see Dávila join forces with fellow attacking recruits Craig Noone, Daniel De Silva and Tomi Jurić as the new-look Bulls look to charge out of the gates.
Down the other end of the pitch, however, the Phoenix have some attacking strength of their own. Gary Hooper returns to the ‘Nix for a second stint this season, offering guidance to young spearhead Ben Waine who has endeared himself to Phoenix fans – and neutrals, too – with his eye for goal and beaming grin.
Match Details – Macarthur FC v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, November 21 2021
Kick-off: 6.15pm AEDT
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Match Centre | Buy Tickets | How to Watch
