It’s the second Grand Final rematch of the season in Round 11 – and this time, reigning champions Western United will hope to put on a better display than what they showcased in a 2-1 loss to Melbourne City on the opening weekend of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2022-23 campaign.
John Aloisi’s side will be confident of doing exactly that after turning their torrid early-season form around across a three-game stretch, in which Western have won two and drawn one, conceding just one goal in the process.
It’s a major upswing in form from the champions who conceded an average of 2.6 goals per game across their seven games prior in a sluggish start to the campaign which began with an uncharacteristically poor defensive display in Round 1’s clash with City; Leo Lacroix scored an own goal and central defender Tomoki Imai went off at half-time with a serious shoulder injury as City flexed their collective muscle to get a slice of revenge at AAMI Park.
Western’s Championship run was built off resolute defence in 2021-22, but poor individual performances, suspension and injuries throughout the early stages of the new campaign led the green and black into a pit of poor form. Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s return from suspension in Round 11 brings Aloisi’s defensive unit back to its full contingent – and just in time, with a rampant City attack led by Jamie Maclaren to contend with on Saturday night.
Maclaren scored in his ninth consecutive A-League Men fixture in Round 10 (a 3-1 win over Wellington). It’s a record streak in Australian professional league history – and one the Socceroo will be eager to continue against Western at AAMI Park.
Opta stat: Melbourne City picked up a 2-1 win in their last A-League Men game against Western United (October 2022) after having not won any of their five meetings in the competition prior (D1, L4).
Melbourne City v Western United
Saturday, January 7 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 BOLD, Paramount+
Odds: City $1.55, Draw $3.90, Western $5.25
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Melbourne Victory host Brisbane Roar in the opening fixture of the weekend in the A-League Men, with Tony Popovic’s side under pressure to lift performances after notching just two wins in eight games leading into Round 11.
Victory are one spot off the bottom of the table heading into the weekend, and face a Roar side buoyed by a seven-game undefeated streak (W2, D5). Warren Moon’s squad recorded both of their wins for the season on a five-game stretch, with the other three games along that run all ending 1-1.
Since marquee signing Charlie Austin’s surprise departure in mid-December, winger Carlo Armiento has stepped up to the fore, scoring both of Brisbane’s two goals on a three-game run. The former Glory flyer looks to have regained his match sharpness after a season spent on the sidelines recovering from an ACL tear.
Opta stat: Brisbane Roar are undefeated in their last seven games in the A-League Men (W2, D5); the last time they went longer without a loss in the competition was a 10-game streak from October to December in 2016 (W5, D5).
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Friday, January 5 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Victory $1.90, Draw $3.40, Roar $3.70
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
Perth Glory return home to take on Western Sydney Wanderers in the second fixture of Friday night. It’s the first of four consecutive games at Macedonia Park for Perth. Ruben Zadkovich’s side will play seven of the next eight games at their makeshift home venue after a treacherous run of games on the road to begin the campaign.
It’s an opportunity to settle into a rhythm and clock points on home turf – but the eight-game run begins with the difficult task of curtailing the threats of a red-hot Wanderers outfit steaming into Round 11 after dispatching Macarthur FC 4-0 last time out.
Milos Ninkovic returns to the Wanderers squad for the trip to Perth, but will struggle to break into the starting XI after impressive performances across the board in victory over the Bulls.
The Wanderers can move to within one point of league leaders Melbourne City with a win over Perth.
Opta stat: Perth Glory are undefeated in their last 11 games against Western Sydney Wanderers in Perth in the A-League Men (W7, D4), last losing such a fixture in February 2014 (2-0).
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, January 5 2023
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 10.30pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Glory $3.45, Draw $3.10, Wanderers $2.10
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
The Saturday action kicks off in Gosford with Central Coast hosting Adelaide United at Industree Group Stadium.
It’s the Mariners’ first fixture since the departure of Garang Kuol to Premier League giants Newcastle United; the rampant form of talismanic striker Jason Cummings, however, should hold the home side in good stead to continue on the impressive form which has fired Nick Montgomery’s side up to third spot prior to Round 11.
Adelaide steadied the ship in Round 10 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Perth Glory; it’s been a sluggish return to action for the Reds since the World Cup break, who failed to win their first three games following Qatar 2022 before breaking the streak against Perth.
Opta stat: Central Coast Mariners have won their last three straight A-League Men games against Adelaide United at Industree Group Stadium after having won only one of their eight such fixtures prior (L7); the last time these teams drew at the Gosford venue was in August 2010 (1-1).
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Saturday, January 7 2023
Industree Group Stadium
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Mariners $2.15, Draw $3.50, Reds $2.95
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Sydney FC host Wellington Phoenix concurrently to the Mariners’ clash with the Reds on Saturday afternoon, with Steve Corica’s side eager to build on a drought-breaking win and clean sheet against Newcastle Jets last time out.
It was the Sky Blues’ first clean sheet of the season – and an important performance to follow a disappointing 3-0 home loss to Macarthur FC which had ramped up the pressure on Corica in the build-up to Round 10.
Sydney are without star winger Joe Lolley for the second of two games the Englishman will spend serving a suspension for a straight red card earned against the Bulls. The Phoenix are bolstered by the return of emerging attacking midfielder Ben Old, and will fancy a crack at the Sydney defence with an attacking quartet in hot form and unlucky not to have scored more than just one goal in a 3-1 loss to Melbourne City in Round 10.
Opta stat: Sydney FC are undefeated in their last nine A-League Men games against Wellington Phoenix (W7, D2); they have a 58% win rate overall against the Phoenix which is their second-best against any team they’ve faced at least 10 times (59% v Perth Glory).
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday, January 7 2023
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Sydney $1.83, Draw $3.60, Phoenix $3.75
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Macarthur FC and Newcastle Jets round out the weekend’s action, and both come into the Sunday afternoon fixture needing to lift after disappointing defeats in Round 10.
Macarthur were played off the park by the Wanderers in a 4-0 loss, whilst Newcastle Jets fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sydney FC on home turf. Both teams are putting together patchy runs of form, with the Jets winning two and losing three of their last five games whilst Macarthur have won three and lost two in the same timeframe.
The Bulls are without Daniel De Silva once again with a knee injury, whilst attention will turn to whether Daniel Arzani can break back into the starting XI; the fringe Socceroo was on the bench for the 4-0 loss to Western Sydney, with Dwight Yorke electing to play Charles M’Mombwa from the start instead of Arzani in De Silva’s absence.
Anthony Carter and Jed Drew were both used as attacking substitutes before Arzani against the Wanderers, who eventually came on for Craig Noone with less than 20 minutes left to play, before giving away the penalty for Western Sydney’s fourth goal.
Opta stat: Newcastle Jets won 3-0 in their last A-League Men game against Macarthur FC (1 May 2022), their first ever win against the Bulls after logging two draws and two losses in their four meetings prior.
Macarthur FC v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, January 8 2023
Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 3.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 BOLD, Paramount+
Odds: Bulls $2.10, Draw $3.40, Jets $3.20
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
