Another chapter will be written in the burgeoning rivalry between the Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory at Sky Stadium on Saturday night.
It’ll be the eighth meeting between the two sides over the past two seasons with the honours even at two wins a piece, with the other three contests finishing in draws.
Saturday’s match may also decide this season’s series. The Phoenix won the first meeting 1-0 in Sydney in November before Victory won 1-0 at AAAMI Park in February.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is expecting another hard-fought match with Victory.
“I look forward to playing these games especially when there’s not much between the teams,” Italiano told media before training on Friday. “I enjoy those coaching battles.
“I think it’ll be no different to the game we played at AAMI Park. As much as we didn’t create in that game I thought that was a really even game up until when they scored, and it was something we could have prevented.
“Victory are built on quick transitions with some really, really good players and that’s something that we need to be aware of tomorrow.
“We have a nice rivalry and it’ll be no different tomorrow. The boys are up for it.”
It’s Victory’s first visit to Wellington since last year’s epic semi-final second leg at Sky Stadium, which was decided in extra time.
It’s a match that doesn’t occupy Italiano’s thoughts.
“I often don’t reflect back on what’s happened. That’s something that I’ll do when I’m no longer here and I have a lot of time on my hands.
“They were great moments for the club and something that I want to replicate again.
“It’s nice to be part of and it was nice to create history for Wellington fans to come out and see that. It’s just a shame we just couldn’t go to that last step.”
Victory have changed their head coach a couple of times since the semi-final with Arthur Diles now in charge.
Italiano has noticed a few changes in the way they play.
“They’re a little bit more fluid at the front. There’s a little bit less structure to their attacking players which makes them more dangerous.
“I probably put them in the same boat as Western United with unpredictability. And Wanderers as well.
“They’ll be tough to play. It’s not easy taking over mid-season and trying to implement a style at the same time. It’s very difficult so he’s done well so far.”
The Nix are unbeaten in their last three matches, with draws against Sydney and Western Sydney before Sunday’s win over Newcastle Jets, and Italiano is happy with the progress the team is making.
“The intention is always there regardless of whether we’re winning or losing. I always want to win every game and perform well.
“Last week the performance in the second half wasn’t where I wanted it to be.
“I was happy with the outcome, but I want to build this week on what we did against Wanderers and against Sydney.
“I want it to be 70/80 minutes of consistent football and something that people enjoy to watch. That’s from now until the last game of the season.”
The win over Newcastle has put Wellington just two points adrift of ninth place and the team has extra motivation to move out of the bottom four.
“Hughesy (Isaac Hughes) mentioned it yesterday that the boys don’t want to go to Darwin for the Australia Cup playoff and I think that’s a good incentive.
“Once the season ends in May I think a lot of those boys need a hard-earned break, especially the senior boys that haven’t really stopped since the Nations Cup.
“And I think also at the back of the minds of a lot of those Kiwi boys is that they want to impress the national team coach in order to make a case to go to the World Cup, so motivation is there.”
Giancarlo Italiano has a settled squad to pick from with only Stefan Colakovski, Chico Geraldes and Alby Kelly-Heald, who are sidelined with season-ending injuries, unavailable for selection.
“I think there are no injuries, which is a big surprise!
“Usually we have one or two players in every week.
“[Alex] Rufer has been off feet a little bit just to manage his knee but I think we’ll be very close to the same squad and the same team.”
The round 26 Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory is scheduled to kick-off at Sky Stadium at 5pm Saturday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 5 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 14 February 2025 – Melbourne Victory 1 Wellington Phoenix 0
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 13W, Victory 26W & 14D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk),3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER.
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 12. Chico GERALDES (injured), 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk) (injured).
Melbourne Victory squad (two to be omitted): 1. Mitch LANGERAK (gk), 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (c), 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Alexander BADOLATO, 25. Jack DUNCAN (gk), 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS.
Unavailable: Nil.
