The 2020/21 A-League season gets underway on Monday, December 28, with Western United facing Adelaide United on the opening day of the new campaign.
Can Sydney FC defend their crown? Or will we see a new Australian champion? Let’s take a look at the leading contenders for the 2020/21 A-League title.
It is hardly surprising that Sydney FC head into the new campaign as the bookmakers’ favourites. After all, the Sky Blues have won three of their last four championships.
Steve Corica’s side recently lost last term’s top scorer Adam Le Fondre to Mumbai City FC, but with experienced duo Milos Ninkovic and Kosta Barbarouses still performing at a high level, Sydney FC will be confident of securing their third straight title.
Melbourne City narrowly missed out on the title last season, suffering an agonising extra-time Grand Final defeat against Sydney FC. Needless to say, the Victorians will be eager to go one better this time around.
Jamie Maclaren clinched the Golden Boot in 2019/20, netting 22 goals in just 23 appearances. If he can pick up where he left off last term, Melbourne City will almost certainly compete for the title in 2020/21.
Western United’s maiden A-League campaign could not have gone much better. The newcomers managed to finish fifth in their inaugural season and even came within one match of reaching the Grand Final.
With veteran duo Besart Berisha – the all-time leading A-League goalscorer – and Alessandro Diamanti –last season’s winner of the Johnny Warren Medal – Western United will be difficult to stop again in the coming months.
Wellington Phoenix recorded their highest-ever A-League finish last season, ending the 2019/20 campaign in third place. But can the New Zealanders replicate their heroics?
If Ulises Davila continues to shine, Wellington could cause the title contenders plenty of problems again. The Mexican racked up 12 goals and five assists last term, making Ufuk Talay’s side one of the most feared opponents in the league.
It is difficult to predict exactly how Perth will fare in 2020/21. The Western Australians enjoyed two successful years under Tony Popovic, but the former Socceroo left the club following their semi-final defeat to Sydney FC.
Perth scraped into the Finals Series last season, finishing sixth in the standings. But after conceding 36 goals in 26 matches, the Glory must tighten things up at the back in order to challenge for the title in 2020/21.