Auckland vs Wellington Phoenix Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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It is the second New Zealand derby of the campaign between two sides, Auckland and Wellington Phoenix, pushing towards the top end of the A League table.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 7th December, 2024: UK – 4:00am / Friday 6th December, 2024 - US ET – 11:00pm / US PT – 8:00pm
How to watch on TV/online: UK – YouTube / US – ESPN / Australia – Paramount+
Auckland Team News: Sakai doubt
Japan international and former Olympique de Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai is an injury doubt for this one due to a hamstring injury. Aside from the doubts over the experienced defender, they have a fully fit and available squad.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Paulsen; Elliot, Hall, Pijnaker, De Vries; Verstraete, Gallegos; Rogerson, Brimmer, Gillion; May
Unavailable:
Questionable: Sakai (Injured)
Wellington Phoenix Team News: Full-back injuries
The Wellington Phoenix have a few issues in the full-back areas for this weekend’s trip to Auckland as right-back Tim Payne is sidelined alongside left-back duo Lukas Kelly-Heald and Sam Sutton due to a knock.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Oluwayemi; Sheridan, Hughes, Wootton; Van Hattum, Retre, Rufer, Nagasawa, Walker; Barbarouses, Ishige
Unavailable: Payne (Injured), Sutton (Injured), Kelly-Heald (Injured)
Questionable:
Auckland vs Wellington Phoenix Prediction
In their first ever season as a club, Auckland have started their 2024/25 A League season with five wins out of five, scoring eight and yet to concede. The New Zealanders, owned by Bill Foley, scored two late goals against Newcastle Jets last weekend to win by two goals to nil. They now face a Wellington Phoenix side that edged past Melbourne Victory by a goal to nil a couple of weeks ago with an 82nd minute winner from Kostas Barbarouses. A low-scoring affair in a tense and nervy so-called ‘derby’ is to be expected, regardless of if a team can wrestle three points.
Auckland vs Wellington Phoenix Tip: Under 2.5 goals
