{"id":2070,"date":"2025-12-04T04:36:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T04:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/?p=2070"},"modified":"2025-12-04T05:21:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T05:21:30","slug":"a-league-preview-auckland-fc-chase-fifth-straight-kiwi-derby-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/a-league-preview-auckland-fc-chase-fifth-straight-kiwi-derby-win\/","title":{"rendered":"A-League Preview: Auckland FC chase fifth straight Kiwi derby win"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Another full round of A-League Men action awaits, bringing match-ups that could redefine the table as the season settles into rhythm. Some teams are full of confidence, others searching for consistency and a few already feeling the early squeeze. With a headline Kiwi derby in Auckland and compelling tests scattered across the league, the weekend serves up intrigue at every stop.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catch all matches live on SPOTV NOW.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRs57NFCBFk\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRs57NFCBFk\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by A-Leagues (@aleagues)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Macarthur vs Melbourne Victory<\/h3>\n<p><strong>December 5 @ 4:35PM (GMT+8)<\/strong><br \/>\nMelbourne Victory\u2019s struggles continued last week with a fourth defeat in six matches, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table. On top of the growing pressure, their trip to Campbelltown Sports Stadium comes with setback of not having Denis Genreau, the former Macarthur fan favourite who was sent off against Brisbane Roar. His absence will deny Arthur Diles\u2019 side a key creative presence as they chase a much-needed three points.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kWwVz_k7Gjo?si=1ooRi_3UVGbKpGxD\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers<\/h3>\n<p><strong>December 5 @ 6:45PM (GMT+8)<\/strong><br \/>\nBoth teams enter this fixture with renewed confidence after stringing together back-to-back wins. Perth\u2019s revival coincided with former Manchester United midfielder Tom Lawrence\u2019s return from concussion protocol, as he contributed one goal and one assist in the two victories. Meanwhile, the Wanderers arrive at HBF Park full of momentum after claiming bragging rights in the Sydney derby. With both sides riding high, this clash should be intriguing.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZMPkoM-f0CE?si=zZAnAu0AiC_wvhw3\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Auckland FC vs Wellington Phoenix<\/h3>\n<p><strong>December 6 @ 12:00PM (GMT+8)<\/strong><br \/>\nForm-wise, Wellington head into the Kiwi derby fresh off a 2-1 win over Adelaide United, while Auckland FC suffered a shock loss to Newcastle Jets. Yet derby history paints a different picture, as Auckland have won all four meetings between the sides to date, including a 2\u20131 triumph in their most recent clash, achieved despite going down to nine men.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xlfMTf48PrM?si=stMcCpwJEANWX9YP\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City<\/h3>\n<p><strong>December 6 @ 2:00PM (GMT+8)<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Jets stunned defending premiers Auckland FC last week and now set their sights on a second straight giant-killing when champions Melbourne City come to town. City have struggled for consistency this season, highlighted by a goalless draw against Central Coast Mariners in their last outing. With a crucial AFC Champions League Elite trip to FC Seoul looming, Aurelio Vidmar faces a delicate balancing act between rotation and results, leaving this fixture firmly on upset alert.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g6IVaRZb7dw?si=SmLfIpnCiADf1Ymv\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Central Coast Mariners vs Sydney FC<\/h3>\n<p><strong>December 6 @ 4:35PM (GMT+8)<\/strong><br \/>\nUfuk Talay\u2019s men make the short trip north for another heated rivalry clash, still licking their wounds from a 1-0 derby defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers. Meanwhile, the Mariners have frustrated visitors at Industree Group Stadium this season and will look to lean on that home advantage once again. Both sides have plenty to prove, setting the stage for a high-intensity affair.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1byCw7qRKxQ?si=ENBDkvqty7DMcHw1\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Adelaide United vs Brisbane Roar<\/h3>\n<p><strong>December 7 @ 4:35PM (GMT+8)<\/strong><br \/>\nAdelaide United\u2019s away woes continued with a 2-1 loss in Wellington, but a return to Coopers Stadium, where they\u2019ve built one of the league\u2019s most reliable home records, should lift spirits despite facing the in-form Lions, who have been unbeaten in the last four matches. With both teams standing a chance to end the week at the summit depending on results elsewhere, the stakes are quietly rising in what could be a pivotal encounter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Another full round of A-League Men action awaits, bringing match-ups that could redefine the table as the season settles into rhythm. Some teams are full of confidence, others searching for consistency and a few already feeling the early squeeze. With a headline Kiwi derby in Auckland and compelling tests scattered across the league, the weekend &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/a-league-preview-auckland-fc-chase-fifth-straight-kiwi-derby-win\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">A-League Preview: Auckland FC chase fifth straight Kiwi derby win<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[301,127],"class_list":["post-2070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories","tag-a-league","tag-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2070"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2077,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2070\/revisions\/2077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}