The Western Sydney Wanderers Westfield W-League draw was announced today.
The Wanderers will play in six home matches this season with four matches at Marconi Stadium and two huge double headers at Spotless and ANZ Stadium.
The Red & Black will open the season with the highly anticipated Sydney Derby on Thursday 25 October at Marconi Stadium with head coach Dan Barrett anticipating the clash to be one for the ages.
“I’m expecting the match to be the first real derby between Sydney and Western Sydney if I’m honest,” said Barrett.
“I think it will be a classic game. I’ve been part of three or four derbies in the past but I’m expecting that this one being the season opener is going to be a really big game.”
The Wanderers will then play their second home match of the season at Marconi, taking on Brisbane Roar on Sunday 4 November.
It won’t be until Round 5 that the Red & Black face rivals Melbourne Victory with Barrett knowing exactly what to expect from the Victorian side this season.
“I think we’ll obviously give a good account for whoever we play, whenever we play,” said Barrett.
“Generally if you do a good job on their attack then you give yourself every opportunity of getting the win against them.”
The Red & Black’s first double header of the season will be played at Spotless Stadium against Canberra United on Friday 7 December as a curtain raiser for the club’s Hyundai A-League match against Central Coast Mariners.
On New Year’s Day the Wanderers will host their second massive double header with both the men’s and women’s teams set to take on Melbourne City at ANZ Stadium.
Barrett believes City, three time Westfield W-League champions, will be looking to continue their dominance this season and the Wanderers will be looking to put up a good fight following some tightly contested match ups over the past two seasons.
“City will always be there or there about, they’re a club that have always been dominant since their inception into the league,” explained Barrett.
“We aim to be competitive definitely against Melbourne City. Like I keep stressing, we are aiming to be competitive against everybody.
“We go out this year to win games and that will be the mindset, particularly at home.
“City will always be a team you look for on the draw to see when you come up against them, and they are the games, that personally myself and I know the players look forward to.”
Round 12 will see the Wanderers travel to Marden Sports Complex to face Adelaide United for the first time of the Westfield W-League 2018/19 season.
The Red & Black will then host Perth Glory on Thursday 24 January at Marconi Stadium before wrapping up the regular season on Saturday 2 February against Newcastle Jets away from home.
Barrett has his sights set on making Wanderers history this season and qualifying for Finals, having never missed a Finals series in his coaching career, and expects it will be a tight Westfield W-League competition this year.
“I’m expecting a really close competition this year,” said Barrett.
“But I expect that we are definitely going to be in the mix.”
