This season’s third instalment of the Melbourne Derby kicks off at AAMI Park on Saturday night in the blockbuster event on the A-Leagues agenda this weekend.
Elsewhere, Central Coast Mariners host Sydney FC in the club’s annual ‘Pink Round’, with commemorative kits and a number of initiatives in place to raise funds for the Central Coast Cancer Council.
Adelaide United kick the weekend off as they welcome Macarthur FC to Coopers Stadium, with Brisbane Roar travelling to face Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Saturday evening.
Western United meet Wellington Phoenix in Ballarat in the earliest kick-off on Saturday, with Perth Glory facing Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon to round out the weekend’s action.
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
ADELAIDE UNITED v MACARTHUR FC
Eager to extend Adelaide United’s winless run to five games is a Macarthur FC side buoyant after a comeback win over Perth Glory, in which captain Ulises Davila stole the show.
The creative midfielder is back to his best at the Bulls after an injury-hampered start to his first season in Campbelltown. His magic assist for Al Hassan Toure’s go-ahead goal against Perth was one of the highlights of the weekend; Toure will hope to benefit from Davila’s silver service as he returns to Coopers Stadium to face his former side.
TIP: The Reds return to form with a tight home win.
Adelaide United v Macarthur FC
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
TV: Paramount+
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SATURDAY, APRIL 9
WESTERN UNITED v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Despite trailing Melbourne City in the table, the Premiers Plate is still Western United’s to lose. With games in hand on the league leaders, Western will have firm belief in their ability to finish the regular season on top, and clinch the club’s first piece of silverware.
Beating the ‘Nix will help Western’s cause. Wellington are reeling after a 5-0 loss to Central Coast on Tuesday which followed a 6-0 rout at the hands of Melbourne City the game prior; Ufuk Talay’s side are in danger of free-falling down the table if they fail to arrest their sudden form slump, and fast.
TIP: Chasing down City is a relentless task – Western to claim all three points in pursuit of the leaders.
Western United v Wellington Phoenix
Morshead Park Stadium
Kick-off: 2.05pm AEST
TV: Paramount+
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WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS v BRISBANE ROAR
Three games without a win have sent Mark Rudan’s Western Sydney below Brisbane Roar in the A-League Men’s table; the two sides meet on Saturday with their respectively slim hopes of a finals foray alive – but only just.
Brisbane snapped a three-game losing streak last time out, with young forwards Henry Hore and Luke Ivanovic amongst the goals in a 2-0 win over Newcastle. Hore is now joint top scorer at the club (five goals) as the 22-year-old looks to lead Brisbane along an unlikely pathway to the finals.
TIP: Roar push Western Sydney all the way in a draw.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEST
TV: Paramount+
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MELBOURNE VICTORY v MELBOURNE CITY
It’s this season’s third instalment of the Melbourne Derby as Victory and City collide at AAMI Park. There’s been nothing to split these two great rivals this season in two draws to date; it’s been a much improved showing from Victory in 2021-22 after losing two Derby fixtures by a combined score of 13-0 last season.
A clash which promises drama of the highest order and a bumper crowd at AAMI Park has delivered on two occasions in 2021-22 – if either side manages to emerge on top on Saturday night, ultimate bragging rights will be theirs for the regular season.
TIP: City to win and continue their best patch of form for the season.
Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
TV: Paramount+, Network 10
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CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v SYDNEY FC
The Mariners are charging toward the top six – and return to Central Coast Stadium just days after romping the Phoenix by five goals to nil. Amongst the scorers on Tuesday night was 17-year-old Garang Kuol, brother of Alou whose exploits in the 2020-21 season earned a European move to German side Stuttgart.
With another Kuol on the rise, and Marco Urena and Jason Cummings scoring for fun, the Mariners are one of the hottest tickets in town – Sydney will need to be at their best on their travels to Gosford, or risk being chased down by the Mariners in the battle for finals football.
TIP: Mariners win against sliding Sky Blues.
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Central Coast Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
TV: Paramount+
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SUNDAY, APRIL 10
NEWCASTLE JETS v PERTH GLORY
Two disappointing results on the trot have stopped Newcastle’s momentum – a home clash against the Glory could prove the perfect tonic.
Interim Perth head coach Ruben Zadkovich has put an emphasis on youth in his short time at the helm. His side face up to the Jets for the second time in three games, after a 0-0 draw at HBF Park in which Jets creator Daniel Penha earned a late red card for a stray elbow on Glory attacker Giordano Colli.
TIP: Well-rested Jets to triumph.
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEST
TV: Paramount+
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