Sydney derby headlines upcoming A-League action

By Lee Seng Foo 3 weeks ago

The latest Sydney derby takes centre stage in this week’s A-League action as Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers renew their rivalry in one of Australian football’s fiercest match-ups, which will be broadcast live on SPOTV NOW on January 31 @ 4:35PM (GMT+8).

The Wanderers, who claimed victory in the first Sydney derby at CommBank Stadium back in November, should enter the contest in better spirits after a morale-boosting win last week.

New signing Ryan Fraser made an instant impact by coming off the bench to score an injury-time winner against Perth Glory, handing new head coach Gary van Egmond a winning start.

On the blue side of Sydney, Ufuk Talay’s men suffered a major setback in their last outing, falling 4-0 to Melbourne Victory in a Big Blue clash. The heavy defeat dented both confidence and their position in the title race, albeit still having a game in hand.

Adding to Talay’s headache for this big match is Ben Garuccio (hamstring) joining Abel Walatee (groin) and Al Hassan Toure (calf) on the injury list, while Rhys Youlley remains suspended. There is, however, a boost with star winger Joe Lolley back in contention after missing five of the last six matches with a hamstring issue.

 

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As for the Wanderers, they could regain a familiar derby difference-maker, with Alou Kuol returning to the squad after sitting out last week. However, striker Hiroshi Ibusuki is out for a second straight match due to injury.

Form often counts for little when it comes to the Sydney derby, where intensity, emotion and moments of individual quality usually decide the outcome. With significant points and pride on the line, expect a fiercely contested match.

Other A-League matches this week LIVE on SPOTV NOW

Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne City
January 30 @ 2:00PM (GMT+8)

Adelaide United vs Macarthur
January 30 @ 5:05PM (GMT+8)

Newcastle Jets vs Brisbane Roar
January 31 @ 2:00PM (GMT+8)

Perth Glory vs Auckland FC
January 31 @ 6:45PM (GMT+8)

Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory
February 1 @ 2:00PM (GMT+8)

 

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Big test for Rodgers as Al Qadsiah take on unbeaten Al Hilal

Brendan Rodgers faces arguably his toughest challenge since arriving in Saudi Arabia as Al Qadsiah host league leaders Al Hilal in the Roshn Saudi League this week. The fixture, which will be broadcast live on SPOTV NOW on January 30 at 1:30AM (GMT+8), pits the league’s most in-form side against its most consistent.
 
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The former Liverpool and Celtic boss, appointed as a replacement for then-manager Michel on December 16, has overseen a sharp upturn in results. After kicking off his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Damac, Rodgers has guided Al Qadsiah to seven consecutive league victories. That run includes notable wins over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and defending champions Al Ittihad, lifting Al Qadsiah to fourth in the table, just one point off second place and six points behind leaders Al Hilal. A key figure in Al Qadsiah’s strong run of results has been Mexican forward Julian Quinones, who is a joint-top scorer in the league with 16 goals, level with Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi and his unbeaten Al Hilal side head into the match after being held a surprise 1-1 draw with the struggling Al Riyadh despite fielding a strong line-up consisting Darwin Nunez, Theo Hernandez and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. For the upcoming title clash, Inzaghi is expected to welcome back goalkeeper Yassine Bounou from Africa Cup of Nations duty. As for defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who won the tournament with Senegal, may not be unavailable after the death of his father earlier this week.

Other upcoming Saudi Pro League matches LIVE on SPOTV NOW

Al Ahli vs Al Ettifaq January 29 @ 1:30AM (GMT+8) Al Kholood vs Al Nassr January 31 @ 1:30AM (GMT+8) Al Ittihad vs Al Najmah February 2 @ 1:30AM (GMT+8) Al Riyadh vs Al Nassr February 2 @ 11:15PM (GMT+8) Al Hilal vs Al Ahli February 3 @ 1:30AM (GMT+8)
By Lee Seng Foo
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A-League Game of the Week: Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC

The Big Blue takes centre stage in the A-League once again as Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC meet for the second time this season on January 26, with kick-off scheduled for 2:40pm (GMT+8), live on SPOTV NOW. When the two sides last met in November, it was Sydney who emerged emphatic 3-0 winners, with Joe Lolley scoring twice and Alex Grant also finding the net. Fast forward to the present, both teams arrive for the showdown black and blue after deflating defeats last week. Victory fell in dramatic fashion in the Original Rivalry against Adelaide United, having a potential match-winning goal ruled out before Ryan Kitto struck an injury-time winner at the other end. The loss marked a second consecutive league defeat for Arthur Diles’ side, who had previously been riding a four-game winning streak. Sydney, meanwhile, endured a frustrating return to Allianz Stadium, with Wellington Phoenix spoiling their homecoming and beating them 2-0. From a squad perspective, Victory appear better placed, welcoming back Joshua Rawlins and Jordi Valadon following their AFC U-23 Asian Cup commitments, while Jason Davidson returns from suspension. Sydney’s task is complicated by a growing injury list, with two-goal hero Lolley (hamstring), Abel Walatee (groin) and Al Hassan Touré (calf) all sidelined. Adding to their concerns is the suspension of Rhys Youlley, who was sent off against the Phoenix. On paper at least, the circumstances suggest Victory may be well placed to seek revenge for their earlier Big Blue defeat.

Other A-League matches this week LIVE on SPOTV NOW

Newcastle Jets vs Wellington Phoenix January 23 @ 4:35PM (GMT+8) Auckland FC vs Central Coast Mariners January 24 @ 12:00PM (GMT+8) Brisbane Roar vs Adelaide United January 24 @ 2:00PM (GMT+8) Macarthur vs Melbourne City January 24 @ 4:35PM (GMT+8) Western Sydney Wanderers vs Perth Glory January 25 @ 4:00PM (GMT+8)
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Western Sydney Wanderers replace Stajcic with Van Egmond as head coach

Struggling A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers decided to part ways with head coach Alen Stajcic after just seven months, appointing Gary van Egmond as his replacement on Wednesday. The decision came just days after the team lost 2-1 to Newcastle Jets, which was their fifth defeat in the last seven matches and left them rooted to the bottom of the A-League standings.
 
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Van Egmond, who previously served as an assistant coach at the club in 2022, will take charge for the remainder of the 2025-26 season with Milos Ninkovic and Damir Prodanovic assisting him. The 60-year-old’s first match in charge will be a home fixture against Perth Glory on Sunday.
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The Rohl Revolution: From 13 Points Adrift to Genuine Title Contenders

When Danny Röhl walked through the doors at Ibrox last October, the outlook was bleak. Rangers sat adrift, trailing Hearts by 13 points and Celtic by eight.

To the outside world, the season looked like a salvage mission; the title race was a conversation Ibrox wasn't invited to.

Fast forward three months, and the landscape of Scottish football has shifted entirely.

Following a relentless run of form, Rangers have whittled that double-digit deficit down to just three points behind league-leaders Hearts.

Perhaps more significantly for the blue half of Glasgow, they now sit three points clear of their Old Firm rivals, Celtic. It is a remarkable turnaround, fueled by a tactical recalibration that has seen the side collect 32 points from a possible 39 (W10, D2, L1).

 

Tuesday’s clinical 2-0 victory over Aberdeen at Ibrox was merely the latest evidence of this new-found momentum. Despite the rapid ascent, Röhl—the former Sheffield Wednesday manager who has quickly won over the Ibrox faithful—is refusing to let complacency creep in.

"I’m very proud of the group at the moment," Röhl told BBC Sport Scotland. "To close a 13-point gap to just three is a statement, but it is still not where we want to be. We are on a journey, and the focus remains firmly on the next game this Sunday."

Premiership Tables start from 20 October 2025

R Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Rangers 13 10 2 1 24 8 +16 32
2 Motherwell 13 8 4 1 18 4 +14 28
3 Hibernian 13 7 2 4 22 13 +9 23
4 Hearts 12 6 4 2 20 11 +9 22
5 Celtic 12 7 0 5 23 16 +7 21
6 Aberdeen 13 5 3 5 15 17 -2 18
7 Falkirk 12 5 3 4 11 13 -2 18
8 Dundee United 13 3 6 4 14 17 -3 15
9 Dundee FC 12 4 1 7 11 20 -9 13
10 St. Mirren 11 2 3 6 11 19 -8 9
11 Livingston 11 0 3 8 10 22 -12 3
12 Kilmarnock 13 0 3 10 8 27 -19 3

The statistics behind the "Röhl Effect" are staggering. If the league had started on October 20th—the dawn of the German’s tenure—Rangers would be sitting comfortably at the summit, four points clear of second-placed Motherwell. In that same period, they have outpaced Hearts by 10 points and Celtic by 11.

No longer just outsiders, Rangers have transformed themselves into genuine title favorites. The tactical discipline and renewed confidence instilled by Röhl have turned a stuttering squad into a machine.

Next up? A quick turnaround and another clash with Aberdeen, this time at Pittodrie on Sunday. Fans in Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Macau can catch the action live on SPOTV NOW.  
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