Macarthur vs Wellington Phoenix: Preview, H2H and probable lineups — April 24, 2026
Macarthur FC
Wellington Phoenix
On Friday, April 24, 2026, Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney will host the final fixture of the A-League regular season as Macarthur take on Wellington Phoenix in the 26th round. With both clubs already out of playoff contention, this encounter is set to resemble a friendly more than a high-stakes battle.
Match preview
Macarthur, led by Mile Sterjovski, currently sit 9th with 31 points. The Bulls have been wildly inconsistent: after impressive wins over Newcastle Jets (3-2) and Auckland (2-1), they suffered painful 1-3 defeats to both Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory. The main issue for the Bulls is their leaky defense, conceding 44 goals in 25 rounds. To make matters worse, they will be without injured captain Tomislav Uskok, further weakening the heart of their backline.
Wellington Phoenix occupy 7th place with 33 points. The New Zealanders are in much better form, having won four of their last five matches. Giancarlo Italiano's side have shown quality football on the road. Their main attacking threat remains Nigerian striker Ifeanyi Ize, who has netted 9 times this season. There is some doubt over Alex Rufer's availability due to a minor knock, but otherwise the squad is at full strength.
Tactically, Macarthur will look to play an attacking 4-2-3-1, hoping to make the most of Harrison Sawyer's physical presence. Wellington Phoenix are expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, looking to transition quickly from defense to attack through Japanese import Kazuki Nagasawa.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Wellington have won three of the last five meetings, with Macarthur claiming just one victory
- Macarthur have lost six of their last eight matches, winning just twice in that run
- Wellington have won four of their last five games, keeping two clean sheets
Prediction
Both sides have clear defensive frailties, which should translate into a high-scoring affair. My prediction: both teams to score – YES at 1.5
