Football
ESPN staff 9y

A-League 2015-16 season fixture: Victory face opening trip to Adelaide

 

The fixtures for the 2015-16 A-League season were released on Monday with defending champions Melbourne Victory set to take on traditional rivals Adelaide United at the Adelaide Oval on the opening weekend.

The season will kick off on Thursday Oct. 8 with Western Sydney Wanderers hosting the Brisbane Roar at Parramatta Stadium in the week after the AFL and NRL Grand Finals.

The increase in Thursday night matches -- to seven -- and the introduction of five Sunday night games, with a 7pm kick-off, are among the new features of the revamped 11th edition of Australia's domestic competition.

The A-League Grand Final will be played on May 1 and the FFA Cup final is scheduled for Nov. 7.

The second and third rounds will feature Sydney and Melbourne derbies, in a draw designed to maximise media attention early in the season.

Under tweaks to the fixtures, none of the 10 A-League clubs will play more than two consecutive away matches during the season and there will be no back-to-back trips to Perth and Wellington.

"Without the constraints of an AFC Asian Cup or other major events to consider we are confident that we've been able to develop a fair and equitable draw for the clubs in terms of rest periods and travel," A-League chief Damien de Bohun said.

"The A-League season draw is highlighted by some fantastic fixtures in the opening three rounds to excite the members and fans with all clubs playing at least one match at home during that period."

The opening weekend will also feature Central Coast Mariners against Perth Glory, Sydney FC versus Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix at home to the Newcastle Jets.

The season will see alternate home venues used including Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns for Brisbane Roar against Wellington Phoenix in Round 10, Simmonds Stadium in Geelong for Melbourne Victory versus Central Coast in Round 14 and ANZ Stadium for Sydney FC against Newcastle Jets in Round 17.

"Today is an exciting day for football fans as we begin the countdown to Season 11 of the Hyundai A-League," added de Bohun.

  

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