A-Leagues look past Manchester City distraction to ‘showpiece’ Melbourne derby

The Guardian Sport · 10/23/2026, 2:00:29 PM

The Premier League scandal may have gripped English football but the A-League club is ‘critical’ to football’s presence and new strategy in Australia Sign up for Football Desk Australia: our newsletter from Jonathan Wilson In Australia’s most populous city, the A-Leagues derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City will have more than a tinge of Manchester on Saturday night. Former United player Juan Mata, now a part-owner at Victory, will be farewelled after he chose not to play on with the A-League foundation club this season. The match is also City’s first at home since their parent club was found to have breached the Premier League’s financial rules . Continue reading...