Melbourne Victory visit Auckland FC in Round 24 of the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday, April 11, kick-off 3pm AEST.
The Boys in Blue visit New Zealand’s most populous city for the first time since an all-timer A-League Finals Semi-Final Second-Leg last May, which went the way of Arthur Diles’ side 1-2 on aggregate.
Another win at Go Media Stadium would be the perfect retort to the Easter Sunday slip-up against Wellington Phoenix – a result that ended Victory’s seven-match unbeaten run.
Auckland, 48 hours earlier, picked up a point away to Adelaide United to remain on course for a top-two finish.
The Boys in Blue
Melbourne Victory – losing for the first time since the beginning of February – missed the opportunity to move within striking distance of Auckland FC, remaining in fourth place with three rounds of the 2025/26 campaign left to play.
The cutting edge, which had seen them net eight times in two matches, beating both Macarthur FC and Central Coast Mariners 4-1, was absent in their penultimate regular-season home fixture.
Nonetheless, with back-to-back matches against the top two in successive weeks, the opportunity to finish strongly and enter the Finals firing on all cylinders remains a distinct possibility.
A reshuffle will be required this weekend, after some blows were sustained during the clash with Wellington. Sebastian Esposito is unavailable as he observes concussion protocol, and Juan Mata, after sustaining an innocuous injury to his elbow, has undergone surgery to mend a fracture.
Meanwhile, Louis D’Arrigo made a welcome return in Round 23, entering the field as a second-half substitute for his first minutes in two months.
Round 24 Squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 7. Reno PISCOPO, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Franco LINO, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 44. Charles NDUKA
Ins: 3. Adama TRAORE, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC
Outs: 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO (concussion), 64. Juan MATA (injury)
Unavailable: 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO (concussion), 16. Joshua INSERRA (injured), 19. Jing REEC (injured), 64. Juan MATA (injured)
Auckland’s account
Second-place Auckland FC are also going to be light of at least three big hitters for the upcoming game, with Michael Woud (groin), Jake Brimmer (calf) and Guillermo May (concussion) all ruled out earlier this week.
The reigning Premiers, three points shy of league leaders Newcastle Jets, responded to a home loss versus Macarthur FC by coming from behind to take a point at Adelaide United on Friday night.
Felipe Gallegos’ sweetly struck volley, his first goal this term, split the points in South Australia and ensured they maintained their record of scoring in every league encounter since the goalless draw with Melbourne Victory in Round 1.
Striker Sam Cosgrove, who leads the A-League Men’s Golden Boot Race in his debut season, captained the team at Coopers Stadium, whilst regular skipper Hiroki Sakai returned from a month-long hamstring injury during the second half.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory and Auckland FC could not be separated on the opening weekend of the A-Leagues 21st season.
Despite the goalless scoreline, it was another gripping contest between the two sides, indicating they would be in the mix for honours down the line.
Jesse Randall had the best chances for Steve Corica’s visitors, whilst it was debutant Keegan Jelacic who went closest to finding a winner for Victory when he tested Michael Woud with a first-half volley.
Last time out
An off-colour Melbourne Victory suffered a surprise home defeat at the hands of a resurgent Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
In a stuttering performance, efforts from distance were the best creations of Arthur Diles’ team, with both Denis Genreau and Jordi Valadon calling Josh Oluwayemi into action.
The Phoenix, who had hit the woodwork through Corban Piper during the first 45, won it in the 89th minute when Ifeanyi Eze’s cross was volleyed in by Sander Kartum to make it three straight wins.
Premiership-chasing Auckland FC gained on Newcastle Jets after their 1-1 away to Adelaide United followed a Thursday night loss for the current table toppers.
The Black Knights could have closed the gap on the Jets to a single point, but had to settle for a score draw after falling behind through Ethan Alagich’s 25th-minute finish.
This was equalised by Luis Gallegos early in the second period, but a full-blooded match, where Auckland received nine bookings, would end level.
