Victory to seek revenge on Mariners on opening night of new A-League season

The opening weekend of the new A-League men’s season will feature a grand final rematch and the competition’s biggest derby.

The A-League season will kick off on October 18 with a grand-final rematch between reigning champions Central Coast and Melbourne Victory as part of a first-round schedule that also includes a Western Sydney Wanderers-Sydney FC derby.

The opening round will also feature the A-League debut of expansion outfit Auckland FC, who will host Brisbane Roar at Go Media Stadium on October 19.

It will be one of two matches in New Zealand on the opening weekend of the competition, with Wellington Phoenix hosting Western United on October 20.

Derbies will continue in round 2 when Melbourne City take on the Victory at AAMI Park.

while the highly anticipated maiden all-New Zealand battle between Wellington and Auckland will take place a week later on November 2 at Sky Stadium.

We're kicking off Round 1 of the Isuzu UTE A-League in style 🙌⚽️

A Grand Final rematch. Auckland's debut. A Saturday night Sydney derby.

We already can’t wait 🔥Full fixture: https://t.co/fKx3MQ0lBdpic.twitter.com/pyMvsMNlNu

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) August 2, 2024

“It’s set to be an exciting 20th year of the A-League,” A-League commissioner Nick Garcia said.

“Building on last season, we can expect more exciting football, with incredible young talent and national team heroes playing the most entertaining football we’ve seen in the A-League.”

The season will consist of 29 rounds, with each of the 13 clubs to play 26 matches and have three byes.

Eleven midweek games will be played during the January school holidays period.

Two matches in each round will again be shown on free-to-air television on 10 Bold.

However, both of the weekly free-to-air games will now take place in two Saturday evening timeslots as opposed to previously when one was shown on Saturday night and the other on Sunday afternoon.

All A-League men’s matches will also be shown on subscription service Paramount +.

“We’ve worked hard to make sure the 2024-25 fixture meets fan, partner and club feedback and to create a new free-to-air format for fans to enjoy,” Garcia said.

As previously reported, Unite Round – in which all A-League men’s matches will be played at Allianz Stadium in Sydney – will held on November 22-24.

The A-League finals series will start on May 9, with the grand final to take place on May 31-June 1.

A-League Round 1 (all times AEDT):

Friday, October 18: Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory, Industree Group Stadium, 7.35pm.

Saturday, October 19: Auckland FC v Brisbane Roar, Go Media Stadium, 3pm; Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City, McDonald Jones Stadium, 5pm; Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm.

Sunday, October 20: Wellington Phoenix v Western United, Sky Stadium, 2pm; Macarthur FC v Perth Glory, Campbelltown Stadium, 4pm.

Bye: Adelaide United