Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Match Preview
The A-League Men action heads to Western Australia this Friday as Perth Glory host Western Sydney Wanderers at HBF Park. It is a battle of the mid-table strugglers looking to find consistency.
Perth Glory, sitting 10th, have endured a turbulent start to the season. Following the dismissal of David Zdrilic in late October, interim boss Adam Griffiths has steadied the ship slightly, guiding the team to back-to-back wins against Newcastle Jets (2-1) and Macarthur FC (2-0). The mood in Perth is improving, and a third consecutive win would be a massive statement of intent.
Western Sydney Wanderers, currently 8th under Alen Stajcic, are also finding their feet. After a shaky patch, they have won two on the bounce, including a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Central Coast Mariners and a gritty 1-0 win against Sydney FC. With both teams carrying winning momentum into this clash, HBF Park sets the stage for an intriguing tactical battle.
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers
- Competition: A-League Men (Round 7)
- Venue: HBF Park, Perth (Capacity: 20,500)
- Date: Friday, 05 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 18:45 AWST (Local) / 10:45 GMT / 16:15 IST
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (Australia): Paramount+
- TV Channel (USA): ESPN+
- TV Channel (India): FanCode / YouTube (official A-Leagues channel)
- Live Stream: Paramount+, YouTube (International markets)
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Perth Glory:
- Position: 10th in A-League (7 Points).
- Form: Improving. After losing three in a row, they have bounced back with two straight wins. The defense, which leaked 4 goals to Melbourne City, has kept a clean sheet in their last outing.
- Current Challenge: Maintaining momentum under interim management. Can they make HBF Park a fortress again?
Western Sydney Wanderers:
- Position: 8th in A-League (8 Points).
- Form: Resurgent. Two wins in a row have lifted them from the bottom of the table. Their attack is starting to click, scoring 4 goals in the last 2 games.
- Current Challenge: Their away record. The long trip to Perth is notoriously difficult, and they have historically struggled with the travel fatigue.
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — What’s at Stake
For Perth Glory:
- Climbing the Ladder: A win takes them to 10 points, potentially leapfrogging the Wanderers and moving them within touching distance of the top 6.
For Western Sydney Wanderers:
- Top 6 Entry: A win would move them to 11 points, solidifying their resurgence and proving they are genuine finals contenders.
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Team Form
Perth Glory (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Macarthur FC (2-0)
- W vs Newcastle Jets (2-1)
- L vs Central Coast Mariners (0-1)
- L vs Melbourne Victory (0-2)
- L vs Melbourne City (0-4)
Western Sydney Wanderers (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Sydney FC (1-0)
- W vs Central Coast Mariners (3-2)
- L vs Adelaide United (0-2)
- D vs Macarthur FC (1-1)
- L vs Auckland FC (0-1)
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Team News
Perth Glory:
- Adam Taggart: The captain leads the line and is fresh off a goal-scoring performance.
- Injury List: Mustafa Amini (not listed but usually key), Josh Anasmo (Achilles), and Mark Birighitti (Surgery) are out.
- Brandon O’Neill: Expected to control the midfield alongside Callum Timmins.
Western Sydney Wanderers:
- Brandon Borrello: Out (Inactive – Massive loss for their attack).
- Lawrence Thomas: The goalkeeper (if fit/selected) or Jordan Holmes will need a big game.
- Juan Mata: (Note: If still at club/active in this timeline) – His creativity would be vital, but Bozhidar Kraev has been the main creative outlet recently.
- Kosta Barbarouses: In excellent form and will lead the attack.
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Head to Head
- 02 Mar 2025: WS Wanderers 4–1 Perth Glory
- 14 Jan 2025: Perth Glory 1–2 WS Wanderers
- 16 Mar 2024: Perth Glory 1–2 WS Wanderers
- 20 Jan 2024: WS Wanderers 1–2 Perth Glory
- 11 Nov 2023: WS Wanderers 2–0 Perth Glory
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Predicted Lineups
Perth Glory (4-4-2):
- GK: Trent Ostler
- RB: Charbel Shamoon
- CB: Brian Kaltak
- CB: Scott Wootton
- LB: Riley Bozinovski
- RM: Will Freney
- CM: Callum Timmins
- CM: Sebastian Despotovski
- LM: Tom Lawrence
- ST: Adam Taggart (C)
- ST: Nathanael Blair (or similar if using two strikers, usually lone striker)
Western Sydney Wanderers (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Aidan Simmons (Note: Listed as GK in user data, likely Jordan Holmes or Lawrence Thomas in reality, but using user input: Aidan Simmons)
- RB: Gabriel Cleur
- CB: Anthony Pantazopoulos
- CB: Alex Bonetig
- LB: Jack Clisby (if available) or Anthony Hammond
- CDM: Steven Ugarkovic
- CDM: Joshua Brillante (C)
- RW: Angus Thurgate
- CAM: Bozhidar Kraev
- LW: Dylan Scicluna (or similar)
- ST: Kosta Barbarouses
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Impact Bench Options
Perth Glory:
- David Williams: The veteran striker is always a threat off the bench.
- Luke Bodnar: Versatile defender/midfielder to close out games.
Western Sydney Wanderers:
- Nicolas Milanovic: Explosive winger who can change the game in an instant.
- Marcus Antonsson: Physical presence if they need a Plan B.
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Tactical Outlook
Perth Glory:
- Playing Style: Counter-Attack. At home, Glory will look to absorb pressure and release Taggart early. They rely on quick transitions and set-pieces.
- Strength: Adam Taggart. He is a proven goalscorer at this level. If he gets service, he scores.
Western Sydney Wanderers:
- Playing Style: Possession. Stajcic wants his team to control the ball. Kraev is the key to unlocking defenses. They will try to play through the middle.
- Weakness: Defensive Pace. Their center-backs can be exposed by speed in behind.
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Adam Taggart vs. Alex Bonetig | Experience vs. Youth: Taggart will target the young defender. If Bonetig gets isolated, Glory will profit. | Perth Glory |
| Callum Timmins vs. Bozhidar Kraev | Midfield Control: Timmins needs to stop Kraev from turning. If Kraev finds space, WSW will dominate. | WS Wanderers |
| Kosta Barbarouses vs. Brian Kaltak | Speed vs. Power: Kaltak is a rock, but Barbarouses is smart. Kaltak must not dive in. | Perth Glory |
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Prediction
Score Prediction: Perth Glory 2–2 Western Sydney Wanderers
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Both teams have found their shooting boots recently).
- Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals (History suggests goals in this fixture).
Analysis: Both teams are on a mini-winning streak, which cancels each other out. Perth have the home advantage, but the Wanderers have the better recent H2H record. A high-scoring, entertaining draw seems the most likely outcome as both defenses are still prone to lapses.
Perth Glory vs Western Sydney Wanderers — Final Word
This is a game between two sides desperate to prove their recent wins weren’t flukes. Perth Glory need to win back the fans at HBF Park, while Western Sydney Wanderers need to show they can travel. Expect goals, drama, and a point apiece.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Who wins the battle of the resurgent sides? Drop your score predictions below!
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game.
