The stakes are raised as Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory face off in the first Melbourne Derby of the Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
AAMI Park will come alive on Saturday night as the two rivals go head-to-head in the blockbuster clash of the weekend.
Elsewhere, a winless Brisbane Roar welcome Liberty A-League leaders Melbourne Victory to Queensland, whilst Macarthur FC – top of the Isuzu UTE A-League – meet the in-form Newcastle Jets at Campbelltown Stadium.
Here is your guide, in chronological order, to the ten A-Leagues fixtures to look forward to this weekend.
UPDATE: Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar postponed
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS v NEWCASTLE JETS
The Jets are soaring after a 5-1 win over Wellington Phoenix last weekend, and it’s a momentous night for co-captain Cassidy Davis who will look to play her 100th consecutive game stretching all the way back to her Jets debut in 2013.
The Wanderers, meanwhile, need a three-point display to kickstart their campaign. A 0-0 draw to the ‘Nix in Round 1 preceded a 2-0 Sydney Derby loss which left Catherine Cannuli’s side in seventh spot on the Liberty A-League table.
Key stat: Newcastle Jets have won four of their last six Liberty A-League games against Western Sydney Wanderers FC (L2), including a 4-1 win when they last met in the competition (23 January
2021).
Western Sydney Wanderers v Newcastle Jets
Friday, December 17 2021
Venue: Wanderers Football Park
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: WESTERN UNITED v ADELAIDE UNITED
On a three-game winning streak defined by resolute defensive shutouts, Western United will look to jump into top spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League table with a win over Adelaide United on Friday night.
The Reds travel to AAMI Park desperate to win for the first time in 2021/22 after a deflating 2-1 loss to Melbourne Victory last weekend. The Reds are dangerous going forward, but it will take something special to break down a Western United defence which has conceded just one goal in four games to date.
John Aloisi’s side lost 1-0 in Round 1, then won the following three games by the same scoreline. If the green and black get up at AAMI Park, don’t expect much to separate the two sides.
Key stat: Western United are undefeated in their last three Isuzu UTE A-League Men matches against Adelaide United (W1, D2), after losing their only meeting in the competition prior (4-3, 26 January 2020).
Western United v Adelaide United
Friday, December 17 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: BRISBANE ROAR v MELBOURNE VICTORY
Two successive fixtures against Perth Glory to begin the season both ended in disaster for Brisbane Roar, conceding late goals in the repeat fixtures to find themselves with no points on the board heading into Round 3.
A clash with reigning champions Melbourne Victory could not come at a worse time for Garrath McPherson’s side. The Victorian outfit have notched six points from two games, belting Adelaide United 5-1 before overcoming Melbourne City in Round 2. Star recruits Alex Chidiac and Lynn Williams made their Victory debuts, with the latter coming off the bench against City to make an instant impact, scoring her new side’s second goal in the comeback 2-1 win.
Key stat: There have been 14 goals scored in the last two Liberty A-League meetings between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory, including a 6-2 win to the Victory in their last encounter (April 2021); the Victory will be searching for consecutive wins against the Roar for the first time.
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, December 18 2021
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
An under-fire Wanderers outfit travel to Gosford to face Central Coast Mariners on Saturday afternoon, a side buoyed by a fantastic win over Sydney FC which has Nick Montgomery’s squad brimming with confidence ahead of this Round 5 clash.
The Wanderers lost 2-0 to Macarthur FC at home last weekend. It was the first loss of the campaign for Carl Robinson’s side, but after falling to NPL outfit APIA Leichhardt in a midweek FFA Cup clash there was little room for error against the Bulls – and a goalless display in a loss at home was not what the doctor ordered.
After a slow start to the season, the feel-good factor is returning to Gosford after the Mariners’ second win of the season in Round 4. If the Wanderers have hopes of quickly getting back to winning ways, they’ll have to scrap for every single point on offer to take anything away from a meeting with the red-hot Mariners.
Key stat: Western Sydney Wanderers have lost only one of their last 11 Isuzu UTE A-League matches against Central Coast Mariners (W7, D3), a 3-1 loss at Central Coast Stadium in April 2019.
Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, December 18 2021
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE CITY v ADELAIDE UNITED
Once the Liberty A-League heavyweights, Melbourne City have shown encouraging signs across two rounds this season which suggest a win against Adelaide United could well be on the cards.
City defeated Canberra United 1-0 in Round 1, then lost to Melbourne Victory 2-1. Rado Vidosic’s side led the Melbourne Derby at half-time but fell off in the second stanza to concede all three points to their bitter rivals. Another chance presents to get back to winning ways in Round 3 against a Reds outfit which experienced opposing fortunes in Round 2, going a goal behind against Canberra United before coming back to win 2-1.
Key stat: Adelaide United picked up 2-1 win in their last Liberty A-League game against Melbourne City (January 2021), their first ever win against them in the competition; they are yet to keep a clean sheet against them from six attempts, however.
Melbourne City v Adelaide United
Saturday, December 18 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE CITY v MELBOURNE VICTORY
Anticipation is rife for a Melbourne Derby with plenty on the line beyond the three available points to either team emerging victorious on Saturday night.
Melbourne City won the Isuzu UTE A-League premiership/championship double last season, destroying rivals Melbourne Victory on two occasions. A 6-0 win early in the campaign was consolidated by a 7-0 mauling, with City striker Jamie Maclaran running rampant against a hapless Victory side.
But plenty has changed since; Tony Popovic arrived to take the reins at Victory, and his side sit second after four rounds. City, meanwhile, have been less than convincing in the early rounds of the season, dropping points on two occasions to sit in fourth spot before the start of Round 5.
Two steely-eyed coaches will lead two titanic teams into battle, with the result capable of swinging either way.
Key stat: Melbourne City have lost only one of their last nine Isuzu UTE A-League matches against Melbourne Victory (W4, D4), a 2-1 loss in December 2019.
Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, December 18 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
Broadcast: Network 10
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: SYDNEY FC v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
After losing 5-1 to Newcastle Jets in Round 2, Wellington Phoenix are in severe danger of conceding another bag of goals against a Sky Blues strike force simply too potent for opposing defenders to contain.
Remy Siemsen has three goals from two games to her name after bagging a brace in a 2-0 Sydney Derby triumph in Round 2. Add strikes from Princess Ibini and Cortnee Vine to the mix, and Sydney FC’s front three have gotten off to a flying start in two wins this season.
‘Nix head coach Gemma Lewis will hope her side’s hefty defeat at the hands of the Jets will go a long way toward educating her inexperienced side on the dangers posed by sides around the Liberty A-League, with a 0-0 draw against the Wanderers in Round 1 offering Wellington a template to follow in Round 3.
Key stat: This will be the first meeting in the Liberty A-League between Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix; the Sky Blues have won only two of their previous seven Liberty A-League games when it has been their inaugural meeting with an opponent on the day.
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, December 19 2021
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
Broadcast: Network 10
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: MACARTHUR FC v NEWCASTLE JETS
The Bulls return to Campbelltown Stadium for the first time this season in a clash with the Jets which promises to be one of the most entertaining affairs across a weekend of A-Leagues action.
Macarthur, like Western United, have conceded just one goal this season, recording three consecutive clean sheets leading into Round 5. The Bulls host a Jets outfit with nine goals on the board from four games this season – a league-high. Newcastle’s attack is firing on all cylinders under Arthur Papas; Valentino Yuel has three goals on the board, whilst Beka Mikeltadze and Daniel Penha continue to establish themselves as two of the league’s bet attacking imports of the off-season.
The Jets are fit, fast and fun to watch – but can they break down a rock-solid Macarthur backline?
Key stat: Newcastle Jets have a shot conversion rate of 14% in the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season, the best of any team in the competition and six percentage points higher than Macarthur FC (8%).
Macarthur FC v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, December 19 2021
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: SYDNEY FC v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
It will feel as though it’s been an eternity since Round 4 for both the Sky Blues and the ‘Nix, with both sides eager to bounce back after respectively disappointing performances last time out.
Wellington were picked apart by the Jets in Round 4, losing 4-0 to end a club-record unbeaten run and slide into ninth spot on the table. The Sky Blues dropped even further into 11th after losing 2-0 to the Mariners; a result which only made critical voices grow louder as Steve Corica’s side continue to fumble through the early stages of the season. Without a win to their name, Sydney will target a clash against Wellington as the perfect opportunity to claim three desperately desired points.
Key stat: Sydney FC are winless from their last five Isuzu UTE A-League matches (D2, L3); the last time the Sky Blues went on a longer winless run in the competition was an 11-match span (D4, L7) from January to April in 2016.
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, December 19 2021
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 6.45pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
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