Melbourne Victory welcome Macarthur FC in Round 21 of the Isuzu UTE A-League on Sunday, March 15, kick-off 7pm AEDT.
The fixture, a chance for Victory to extend their five-match unbeaten run, will feature a series of match-day activations at AAMI Park, as the Club and LifeChanger Foundation connect for the Stand Together Mental Health Round, uniting football and community in the support of youth mental wellbeing.
Arthur Diles’ hosts started the third month of 2026 with a draw away to Sydney FC, having to settle for a point in New South Wales despite leading two-nil during the second half.
Macarthur’s latest outing was last Wednesday, when they suffered a 1-3 defeat to Central Coast Mariners at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
The Boys in Blue
A third away win on the spin escaped the clutches of Melbourne Victory against Sydney FC last weekend, but there were heaps of plus points from the Round 20 Big Blue clash at Allianz Stadium.
The visitors, without fear, took the game to their interstate hosts. Jordi Valadon was a force of nature in the midfield, which was anchored by teenager Xavier Stella, whilst Nishan Velupillay and Santos did tireless work on the flanks, both defensively and offensively.
Victory created plenty of goalscoring opportunities and deservedly led at the interval, courtesy of Juan Mata’s latest piece of magic.
His free-kick goal, which kissed the post on its way past a helpless Harrison Devenish-Meares, was Mata’s fourth goal of the 2025/26 season, a return that is accompanied by a league-best 10 assists.
This lead was doubled by a sharp finish from Charles Nduka, his second strike for the Boys in Blue just minutes on from his introduction, after opening his account during the February clash with Brisbane Roar.
Unfortunately, a quickfire response from Sydney would split the points, but the outcome could have been more damaging had it not been for a catalogue of saves from 21-year-old goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky.
Now it is another NSW opponent for Arthur Diles and co., and prior to December’s stalemate in Campbelltown, Victory had won back-to-back games versus the Bulls.
Round 21 Squad: 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 7. Reno PISCOPO, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 34. Xavier STELLA, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 44. Charles NDUKA, 64. Juan MATA
Ins: N/A
Outs: 2. Jason DAVIDSON (personal)
Unavailable: 2. Jason DAVIDSON (personal), 27. Louis D’ARRIGO (injured)
The Bulls
Three straight defeats, extending their form to five matches without a win, have seen Macarthur FC slip out of the top six with half a dozen matches remaining, of which just two are at home, including one against table-toppers Newcastle Jets.
In recent weeks, they lost out to the Jets by a single goal in the Hunter Valley before suffering a heavy home defeat to basement dwellers Western Sydney Wanderers.
Then, again at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, they ended up empty-handed when hosting Central Coast Mariners, who have replaced them in the places for Finals football.
These results follow the Bulls’ Round of 16 exit from the AFC Champions League Two. Mile Sterjovski’s men lost the away leg to Bangkok United, meaning the 2-2 home draw was not enough to avoid elimination.
Overall top scorer, Harrison Sawyer, who has nine goals to his name, was on target during that second leg, but Macarthur will be after more from their January arrival, Mitch Duke. The Socceroo World Cup hopeful has two goals since returning to the A-League, the last of which came when Macarthur shared the points with Perth Glory in early February.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory were denied a win away to Macarthur FC, despite a second-half onslaught on their visit to New South Wales in Round 7.
Louis D’Arrigo smashed the woodwork as half-time loomed before substitute Nishan Velupillay had the visiting team’s best chances of the second 45, firing narrowly wide and then forcing a fine stop from Filip Kurto as the contest headed to a goalless draw.
Brazilian attacking force Santos had seen a first-half goal disallowed following a lengthy VAR check.
Last time out
Melbourne Victory let slip a second Big Blue success of the campaign as Sydney FC fought back last weekend.
Juan Mata’s superb first-half free kick was added to in the second 45 by substitute Charles Nduka, as the visitors appeared on course for three points on the road.
However, two goals, in minutes 73 and 75, from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Ahmet Arslan, meant the sides could not be separated in rainy conditions at Allianz Stadium.
Macarthur FC were displaced from the top six by Central Coast Mariners, as Warren Moon’s side took all three points in Campbelltown.
The visitors went ahead with 37 minutes on the clock when Alfie McCalmont converted from the penalty spot, and doubled their advantage thanks to Bailey Brandtman’s impressive effort.
Anthony Caceres immediately halved the arrears for the Bulls, but losing Tomislav Uskok to a straight red card as the game entered the final 20 minutes dented their hopes, and Nathanael Blair added the Mariners’ third late on.
