’Tis the season for food, family, friends – and for football, with each day blending into the next, and the A-Leagues action coming your way in abundance.
Take a break from your last-minute Christmas shopping to enjoy a Thursday night Liberty A-Leagues clash between Canberra and Brisbane Roar, before kicking back with a plate of Boxing Day leftovers as the games roll on toward the New Year.
READ: One game postponed, Round 6 crowds affected by rising COVID cases
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: CANBERRA UNITED v BRISBANE ROAR
It’s the battle between two finalists from 2020/21 without a point on the board in the new campaign.
After the postponement of their Round 3 fixture against Perth Glory, Canberra United return to action eager to climb away from Brisbane Roar, currently planted to the foot of the Liberty A-League table.
Canberra finished fourth and the Roar second last season, but neither side has managed to collect a point from their opening fixtures. Canberra lost to both Melbourne City and Adelaide United, whilst the Roar fell twice to Perth Glory in quick succession before losing to Melbourne Victory 3-2 in Round 3.
Both sides were predicted to contend for a spot in the top four at the start of the season, but even at this early point another defeat for either side would sound some alarm bells.
Key stat: Canberra United picked up a 4-1 win in their last Liberty A-League game against Brisbane Roar (March 2021), snapping a seven-game winless streak against them in the process (D2, L5).
Canberra United v Brisbane Roar
Thursday, December 23
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Venue: Viking Park
Stream: Paramount+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Western Sydney Wanderers, a team in turmoil, travel to the Hunter in search of a much-needed win; a win that would need to come at the expense of Wanderers boss Carl Robinson’s former side – a side he departed in acrimonious circumstances.
It’s the Wanderers against the Jets. You’re not going to want to miss this one.
Newcastle boss Arthur Papas has his own incentives for this Boxing Day event, after the Jets rescinded a one goal lead to ten-man Macarthur FC in a 2-1 loss in Round 4. The Jets are fast and fluid, but showed complacency in defeat against the Bulls. Papas will have his side red hot and raring to go on December 26 – but can the Wanderers match it?
This fixture will be played behind closed doors at McDonald Jones Stadium. READ MORE
Key stat: The Newcastle Jets have lost only one of their last 11 Isuzu UTE A-League Men games against Western Sydney Wanderers FC (W5, D5); they’ve drawn three of their last four encounters (L1).
Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers
Sunday, December 26
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Stream: Paramount+
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READ: The story you don’t see – loneliness of a coach on the brink
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE VICTORY v MELBOURNE CITY
Last week it was the Isuzu UTE A-League bringing the Melbourne Derby heat.
This time Melbourne City are the hosts, the Liberty A-League the competition, and with the two teams ranked second (Victory) and third (City) on the table there’s plenty at stake at this early stage of the campaign.
Key stat: Melbourne City FC have won five of their last six games in the Liberty A-League (L1), keeping a first-half clean sheet in all six of those fixtures.
Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City
Sunday, December 28
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park
Stream: Paramount+
Broadcast: Network 10
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: MACARTHUR FC v SYDNEY FC
On top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table after five rounds, Macarthur FC are flying. Their defensive record is superb, their attacking output efficient, and with 13 points on the board Ante Milicic’s side have to squint down the table to see the Sky Blues in seventh place, with five points to their name.
But that doesn’t mean the Bulls will underestimate their Round 6 opponents.
Sydney FC got their first win of the season against Wellington Phoenix in Round 5 – a side struggling for form as well. But we’ve seen it in season’s gone by; a slow start does not deter the Sky Blues from a resurgence.
Their biggest test of the season to date awaits in Campbelltown.
Key stat: Sydney FC have won their last two Isuzu UTE A-League games played on Boxing Day, scoring four goals on the day in each of those wins.
Macarthur FC v Sydney FC
Sunday, December 28
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Stream: Paramount+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE VICTORY v WESTERN UNITED
Kicking off concurrently to Macarthur FC v Sydney FC is another contest between local foes with a similar tale: old guard against new with implications for the lay of the land up the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
Western United, like Macarthur, are on a glistening form streak only getting more impressive as each game passes. United have recorded four, yes four 1-0 wins in succession to sit in second spot after five rounds.
But their only loss of the season to date – another 1-0 result – came against Melbourne Victory in Round 1. Buoyed by their performance in last round’s 2-2 Melbourne Derby draw, Victory will take great pleasure in dealing another cross-town rival an unfavourable result in Round 6.
Key stat: Melbourne Victory picked up a 6-1 win over Western United FC when they last met at AAMI Park (May 2021); only once have they had a bigger winning margin in the Isuzu UTE A-League (6-0 v Adelaide United, February 2007).
Melbourne Victory v Western United
Sunday, December 28
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park
Stream: Paramount+
Broadcast: Network 10
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: SYDNEY FC v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
The Sky Blues are ominous favourites in a Liberty A-League Sydney Derby fixture between two sides experiencing conflicting fortunes to start the campaign.
Sydney FC are on top of the table with three wins from three, eight goals for, one against and two clean sheets. The Wanderers, meanwhile, are seventh with a Round 2 loss to Sydney FC sandwiched by two draws against Wellington and the Jets in Rounds 1 and 3 respectively.
The Wanderers lost 2-0 to the Sky Blues in Round 2, with Remy Siemsen bagging a brace.
Key stat: Sydney FC have won 16 of their 19 Liberty A-League games against Western Sydney Wanderers (D1, L2), including their last four on the bounce across which they have kept four clean sheets.
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Monday, December 27
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Stream: Paramount+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
The Mariners are perfect at home thus far, winning two games from two – both of which coming in succession in the build-up to this clash with Wellington on December 27.
The ‘Nix began the season with promise, but have since slumped to consecutive losses at the hands of Newcastle (4-0) and Sydney FC (2-1). Based in NSW, the strain of playing away from home may be catching up with the New Zealand outfit – and the challenges don’t get any easier against Central Coast.
Nick Montgomery has his Mariners side flying. Sitting fourth on the table heading into Round 6, the Gosford outfit can consolidate its spot on the top six by defeating the ‘Nix and continuing a fine run of form on home soil.
Key stat: Wellington Phoenix have won seven of their last eight Isuzu UTE A-League games against the Central Coast Mariners, scoring an average of three goals per game in that period.
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
Monday, December 27
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Stream: Paramount+
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: WELLINGTON PHOENIX v NEWCASTLE JETS
After the Isuzu UTE A-League action wraps up at Central Coast Stadium, attention will turn to Wellington’s Liberty A-League side and the travelling Jets who will go head-to-head at the same venue on Monday night.
A 0-0 draw to the Wanderers in Round 1 saw Wellington make a positive start to Liberty A-League life… before the Jets brought Gemma Lewis’ side crashing down to earth. A 5-1 Newcastle win in Round 2 was to follow for Wellington, but just over two weeks later the ‘Nix receive a chance to enact revenge.
Key stat: The Newcastle Jets picked up a 5-1 win in their only previous encounter with the Wellington Phoenix in the Liberty A-League (December 2021), their joint-second biggest win in the history of the competition.
Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
Monday, December 27
Kick-off: 6.45pm AEDT
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Stream: Paramount+
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