It’s been a while between drinks, but your City boys will finally return to the pitch in Sydney on Saturday afternoon. Seventeen days after their last outing, they head to Allianz Stadium to face Sydney FC for the first time this season in what shapes up as a crucial clash. Here’s what you need to know as they prepare to fight for three important points:
Freshened Up
Following a bye and an international break, Melbourne City has had plenty of time to reset and prepare for Saturday’s fixture. The extended break provided an opportunity to reflect on their last result—a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Newcastle, despite dominating the key statistics. With six games remaining in the season, their focus is now firmly on securing maximum points and finishing strong.
The time off has also allowed both Yonatan Cohen (calf) and Germán Ferreyra (concussion) to fully recover from minor injuries that kept them sidelined in their last match before the break, with both back in the squad for this fixture. Aziz Behich, Kai Trewin, and Marco Tilio have all returned from Socceroos duty this week, and Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar has confirmed they are all fit and in contention for a starting spot.
A Different Look in Midfield
Vidmar will be forced into at least two changes from his last starting XI, with Mathew Leckie (calf) and Steven Ugarkovic (suspension) both not making the trip. The duo’s absence leaves crucial gaps in midfield that will need to be filled. Zane Schreiber and Kai Trewin have both played in the defensive midfield role at times this season, making them likely candidates to step in for Ugarkovic. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Ale Lopane has been named in the squad for the first time this season after overcoming a serious knee injury and impressing in the VPL1 in recent weeks. Lopane could be in line for his first appearance of the season, while Lawrence Wong and Nathaniel Atkinson have also been deployed in midfield throughout the campaign. With several options available, Vidmar will have a pivotal decision to make on how best to structure his side.
A Point to Prove
With every point crucial in the race to Finals, City will be eager to put in a strong performance in their first encounter against Sydney FC this season. A top-two finish remains well within reach, and a win on Saturday could see them move up to third place, just one point behind Western United in second. Before the loss to Newcastle, City had been building momentum with a four-game unbeaten run (3W, 1D), and Vidmar’s side will be determined to show that result was just a minor setback.
Historically, their recent away trips have ended in tight contests, with two 1-1 draws and a 2-1 defeat since their last interstate win over Sydney FC in 2022. With so much on the line, expect City to come out firing as they push for a crucial three points on Saturday afternoon.
Fixture Details
A-League Men: Round 24
Sydney FC v Melbourne City FC
Allianz Stadium
Saturday, March 29, 2025, 5:00 PM KO
Live on 10Bold and Paramount+
Melbourne City Facing ‘Tough’ A-League Test Against Sydney FC
Melbourne City has promised to fight fire with fire against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night. Coach Aurelio Vidmar has assured that his side won’t be intimidated by a star-studded and desperate Sydney FC. It’s crunch time for Sydney, who are three points outside the top six and four points adrift of fourth-placed City.
Sydney FC had been expected to dominate the A-League this season after assembling a squad that includes the competition’s best player, Brazilian star Douglas Costa, Polish striker Patryk Klimala, English winger Joe Lolley, and Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres. However, perhaps finding the juggle of playing in the domestic competition as well as the AFC Champions League too tough, Sydney has struggled for A-League consistency. As a result, Vidmar expects the Ufuk Talay-coached team to up the ante on Saturday.
“We know we’re up for a very, very tough game,” Vidmar said. “They’re a good side. We know they’re very good with the ball. The great attacking weapons are highlighted with the boys (Costa, Klimala, and Lolley) up front.”
However, City’s own forwards, including former Sydney winger and Socceroo Marco Tilio, can also cause damage. Tilio will have a point to prove after not being used by national team coach Tony Popovic in either of Australia’s wins in the past 10 days over Indonesia and China despite being in the 26-man Socceroos squad. “We’ve got to be positive as well,” Vidmar said. “We’re not going to sit back and let them dictate. We got to try to play our own game, and we do that regardless if we’re home or away.”
Talay said his players had worked hard on the training paddock during the A-League’s recess for the international window break but had also been allowed to “let their hair down a little bit.” Off-field fun included a squad bonding session at the Luna Park amusement centre, where the players took part in Squid Game: The Experience, an activity based on the hit Netflix show. “Just the players went. We wanted the players to enjoy it and have some time together outside of football,” Talay said. “I thought it was a great idea.”
However, the time for fun is over, with Sydney now intent on moving into the top six and challenging for the championship. “We’ve got very big games coming up to put ourselves into a good spot, hopefully leading into finals football,” Talay said. “It’s very important that we beat the teams that are currently above us so we can move up the ladder.”
Five of the Sydneysiders’ remaining six regular season games are against teams currently sitting higher on the ladder. They play City twice (home and away), Adelaide United (away), Auckland FC (home), and Western United (away). Sydney’s other opponent is Newcastle, with the Jets having been in ninth place at the start of round 24.
