A-League Men: Round 28 preview

It’s the penultimate round and a few clubs have a chance to secure their finals spot this week

Auckland teammates celebrate Louis Verstraete's opener in the 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory. Photo: AAP/Con Chronis

Michael Georgiou
24 April 2025 12:38pm

Bulls host Victory in a must win affair, Roar hope to jump off the bottom of the ladder, Wanderers look to guarantee finals, City aim to wrap up second spot, Auckland eye history and Western want a top two spot back. Read on for a preview of Round 28.

Macarthur Bulls v Melbourne Victory

Friday 25/4 7.35pm (All times in AEST)

It’s do-or-die for the Bulls if they want to play finals this season.

There are two games left to play and they’re four points outside the top six, but they’ll also need other teams results to go their way.

Victory come into this match off a 2-0 home loss to league leaders Auckland, but a win here will guarantee finals, and history is on their side for this one, having won five of the nine meetings between the two sides and unbeaten in their last three at the Bulls home ground.

Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix

Saturday 26/4 3pm

Both these sides can’t make finals, so this is for bragging rights between two side sitting 11th and 12th.

Roar are also hoping to avoid a first ever wooden spoon and a win here will help. Their recent good form is a positive sign, they defeated Western United and drawn with Adelaide in the last two games.

Wellington on the other hand are coming off back-to-back losses.

In the last 10 games between the two clubs, Phoenix have won five while four have been draws.

Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers

Sat 26/4 5pm

This is the Jets last home game for the season as they host the high-flying Western Sydney.

Last time out they coughed up a two-goal lead against Sydney to lose 3-2 but their last home game was a massive 6-0 win over rivals Central Coast Mariners.

Newcastle can’t make finals and coach Rob Stanton will depart at season’s end.

For the fourth placed Wanderers, a win here guarantees finals but could it could be even more beneficial.

If Western United lose or draw, Wanderers will finish the round third, and if Melbourne City suffer a loss, they could be fighting for second spot in the last round.

Star attacker Nicolas Milanovic also has a chance to get ahead in the Golden Boot race – he is currently second with 12 goals, one behind co-leaders Adrian Segecic and Archie Goodwin.

Melbourne City v Adelaide United

Sat 26/4 7.35pm

If City beat Adelaide this week, they could wrap up second spot and qualify for next season’s AFC Champions League Elite.

This all depends on Western’s result, City need them to draw or lose on Sunday.

There is also a very slight chance they can still finish first and win the Premiership, but that would require the Black Knights to suffer and upset loss to cellar dwellers Perth Glory this week to keep first position in contention next round.

For Adelaide, even if they notch a win here, their finals fate is in the hands of other results because they have a bye in the last round.

They’re seventh on equal points with Sydney, so they would need the Sky Blues to lose their final two games.

But goal difference might come into play too, with the Reds having a much worse (-2) to Sydney (+12).

Auckland FC v Perth Glory

Sunday 27/4 3pm

By the time this game comes around, Auckland could already have clinched the Premiership.

If City lose, the Black Knights only need a draw against Glory to secure the Premiers Plate, and if they do so, it will be history making.

It will be the first time a New Zealand club does so, in their first season nonetheless.

Perth will be desperate to avoid a second-straight wooden spoon, sitting last, one point behind Roar.

Western United v Sydney FC

Sun 27/4 5pm

United’s hopes of finishing second and earning spot in the AFC Champions League Elite is hanging by a thread.

They are third, three points behind City and will need to win both their remaining games and for City to lose along the way.

Western have also suffered back-to-back losses against Wanderers and Brisbane, halting their recent progress.

As for Sydney, who sit sixth, they will have a finals spot locked down if the Bulls and Reds both lose this week.

But if those two teams win their matches, the Sky Blues need a win here and a draw next time to make finals, or vice-versa of course. A win this week would also eliminate Macarthur.

Standings

Teams Win Draw Loss Points

1. Auckland FC 14.8.2.50

2. Melb City 13.5.6.44

3. Western Utd 12.5.7.41

4. Western Sydney 11.7.6.40

5. Melb Victory 11.6.7.39

6. Sydney FC 10.7.7.37

7. Adelaide Utd 10.7.8.37

8. Macarthur 9.6.9.33

9. Newcastle Jets 8.5.11.29

10. Central Coast 5.11.9.26