Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Match Preview
Post-Christmas football arrives at Coopers Stadium on Saturday, 27 December 2025, as Adelaide United host Western Sydney Wanderers. The Reds sit comfortably in 5th place (12 points) and will be buoyed by a gritty 1–0 away win over Perth Glory in their last outing. In stark contrast, the Wanderers are in crisis mode. Languishing in 11th place with just 9 points, the visitors have lost three of their last five matches, including a demoralizing 0–2 home defeat to new franchise Auckland FC. With the home crowd behind them, Adelaide will see this as a prime opportunity to cement their spot in the Finals Series places.
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Match Info
- Competition: Isuzu UTE A-League (Matchday 10)
- Venue: Coopers Stadium, Adelaide (Capacity: 16,500)
- Date: Saturday, 27 December 2025
- Kickoff: 19:35 ACDT | 20:05 AEDT | 09:05 GMT
- Referee: TBC (Football Australia Appointment)
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Match Stakes
Adelaide United (5th — 12 pts):
- Win → Moves to 15 pts; solidifies top 6 status and keeps pressure on the top 4
- Draw → Keeps the unbeaten run ticking but risks dropping down the ladder
- Loss → Allows the chasing pack (including WSW) to close the gap to zero
Western Sydney Wanderers (11th — 9 pts):
- Win → Moves to 12 pts; draws level with Adelaide and instantly revives finals hopes
- Draw → Stops the rot after the Auckland loss; a decent point on the road
- Loss → Remains in the bottom two; pressure on the manager reaches boiling point
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Team News
Adelaide United:
- Clough Z. — Available (Key Playmaker)
- Goodwin C. — Available (Captain & Talisman)
- Delianov J. — Available (Starting GK)
- Rotation: Manager likely to stick with the winning XI that beat Perth Glory.
Western Sydney Wanderers:
- Borello B. — Available (Captain – needs to step up)
- Milanovic N. — Available (Creative spark)
- Marcelo — Questionable (Knock vs Auckland)
- Defensive Woes: Conceding 10 goals in 9 games is a concern; changes in the backline are expected.
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Adelaide United
- 20/12 — 1–0 vs Perth Glory (A-League)
- 13/12 — 1–2 vs Melbourne Victory (A-League)
- 07/12 — 0–1 vs Brisbane Roar (A-League)
- 29/11 — 1–2 vs Wellington Phoenix (A-League)
- 21/11 — 4–1 vs Melbourne City (A-League)
Western Sydney Wanderers
- 19/12 — 0–2 vs Auckland FC (A-League)
- 13/12 — 0–0 vs Brisbane Roar (A-League)
- 05/12 — 0–1 vs Perth Glory (A-League)
- 29/11 — 1–0 vs Sydney FC (A-League)
- 22/11 — 3–2 vs Central Coast Mariners (A-League)
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 07/11/2025 — Adelaide United 2–0 WS Wanderers
- 27/12/2024 — Adelaide United 2–3 WS Wanderers
- 02/11/2024 — WS Wanderers 3–4 Adelaide United
- 12/09/2024 — Adelaide United 2–1 WS Wanderers (Australia Cup)
- 24/02/2024 — Adelaide United 1–2 WS Wanderers
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Adelaide United (4-2-3-1)
Delianov; Kitto, Isaias, Popovic, Bovalina; Barnett, Alagich; Goodwin, Clough, Halloran; Ibusuki
WS Wanderers (4-4-2)
Thomas; Clisby, Marcelo, Bonetig, Cleur; Milanovic, Brillante, Hendrix, Pierias; Borello, Antonsson
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Impact Bench
Adelaide United: Irankunda (Explosive pace), Mauk (Energy/Pressing)
WS Wanderers: Priestman (Defensive cover), Badolato (Goal threat)
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Tactical Analysis
Adelaide United
Carl Veart’s side thrives at Coopers Stadium. They will look to overload the wings through Craig Goodwin and use Zach Clough to find pockets of space between the Wanderers’ lines. Adelaide’s high press was effective against Perth, and they will likely try to suffocate a WSW midfield that struggles to retain possession under pressure.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Alen Stajcic (or current manager) has a headache. The Wanderers are struggling to score (only 6 goals in 9 games). They will likely set up to defend deep and hit on the counter, using the speed of Borello and Milanovic. However, their inability to keep clean sheets (negative goal difference) means they cannot simply park the bus; they must find a way to hurt Adelaide in transition.
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Key Battles
- Goodwin vs Cleur — League’s best winger vs WSW right-back
- Clough vs Brillante — Battle for midfield creativity vs destruction
- Ibusuki vs Marcelo — Aerial duel in the box
- Borello vs Kitto — WSW captain needs to win this flank battle
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Spotlight Players
Adelaide United — Zach Clough
The English playmaker is the link between midfield and attack. If WSW give him time on the ball, he will pick them apart.
Western Sydney Wanderers — Brandon Borrello
The Wanderers need their captain to lead by example. With the team struggling for goals, his direct running and finishing ability are their best hope of an upset.
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Prediction
Adelaide United 2–0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Adelaide are finding their feet again, while the Wanderers look devoid of confidence and cutting edge. The Reds have already beaten WSW 2–0 this season, and with home advantage, a repeat scoreline is the most logical outcome.
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Betting Insights
- Adelaide United to Win — High Value
- Under 2.5 Goals — Possible (WSW struggle to score)
- Craig Goodwin to Score or Assist — YES
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — Where to Watch
- Australia: Paramount+, 10 Bold
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- International: YouTube (KeepUp – Select Regions)
Adelaide United vs WS Wanderers — FAQs
Q: When is the Adelaide vs WSW match?
A: The match kicks off on Saturday, 27 December 2025, at 19:35 local time (ACDT).
Q: Who won the last time they met?
A: Adelaide United won 2–0 on 7 November 2025.
Q: Is Western Sydney Wanderers in good form?
A: No, they have lost 3 of their last 5 matches and scored 0 goals in their last game.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
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