The opening weekend of the new A–League Men's season continued with the first derby match of the campaign. It was a big one too as Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC went head-to-head for bragging rights in Australia's largest city. Both Sydney clubs enjoyed reasonably successful campaigns last time out but ended up finishing on either side of the line to qualify for the end-of-season playoffs. Sydney FC finished fourth on the ladder, and despite thumping rivals Macarthur in their elimination play-off, the Sky Blues lost over two legs to eventual champions Central Coast, but did still manage to qualify for the AFC Champions League.
The Wanderers, meanwhile, finished four points behind their local rivals in seventh place, just one spot and two points outside the Finals thanks to a woeful end-of-season run which saw them win just three of their last nine matches. The Sporting News looked at the key details ahead of this match on the A League's opening weekend, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest team news.
How To Watch
Fans could tune into this A League match both live and on demand with a subscription to Paramount+, who are offering a seven-day free trial for new customers on their streaming service. Free-to-air coverage Down Under also came in the form of Channel 10's network, with this match set to be shown live on 10 Bold and 10 Play.
Key Match Details
This A League Men's match took place at Commbank Stadium in Parramatta, Western Sydney, NSW and kicked off on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 7:35 p.m. local time (AEST).
Team News: Western Sydney Wanderers
The Wanderers made several high-profile signings over the off-season, including Bozhidar Kraev, Jeong Tae-Wook and World Cup winner Juan Mata himself. All three could start at Commbank Stadium as the hosts looked to get their campaign off to a winning start.
The Wanderers' predicted XI (4-4-2, right to left): Thomas (GK) — Simmons, Beadling, Jeong Tae-Wook, Clisby — Kraev, Juan Mata, Brilliante, Milanovic — Borrello, Antonsson.
Team News: Sydney FC
Sydney made several big-name signings of their own, namely former Brazil international forward Douglas Costa. He could make his debut in this inter-city derby, as could fellow recruits Patrick Klimala and compatriot Leo Sena in midfield.
Sydney FC predicted XI (4-2-3-1 right to left): Redmayne (GK) — Grant, Matthews, Gurd, Courtney-Perkins — Hollman, Leo Sean — Lolley, Caceres, Douglas Costa — Klimala.
Match Prediction
Just four points separated these two sides in the table last season, and that made calling the result of this upcoming match all the more difficult. However, after Sydney recorded 4-1 and 2-1 victories during the Wanderers' poor end of season run, and having kept the bulk of their squad together, they were expected to just about edge this one.
Post-Match Analysis
The Sydney derby delivered on its promise of a thrilling and intense encounter, with a combination of marquee debuts, scuffles, a red card, and three goals. It was Sydney FC who walked away with bragging rights, securing a 2-1 victory over their Western Sydney rivals. The result marked a third consecutive win for the Sky Blues against the Wanderers.
The match saw the long-awaited debuts of Juan Mata and Douglas Costa. Mata, despite coming off the bench, received a warm reception from the Wanderers faithful, showcasing his star power. Costa, on the other hand, started for Sydney FC and played a significant role in the team's victory. His cross led to Patryk Klimala's goal, putting Sydney FC in a commanding position.
However, The match wasn't without its share of controversy. A challenge by Alexandar Popovic in the 25th minute sparked a melee between both sides, leading to yellow cards for Popovic and Nicolas Milanovic. The tension continued late in the match when Sydney FC substitute Max Burgess received a straight red card for a reckless challenge.
Despite the drama, Sydney FC held on to secure the win, with Joe Lolley's goal in the first half and Klimala's header proving to be the difference. The victory solidified Sydney FC's dominance in the derby, while the Wanderers will be looking to bounce back in their next encounter.
