Wellington Phoenix — Brisbane Roar : Match Preview and Prediction for October 26,2025

Wellington Phoenix finds themselves in a dire state this season. Historically, Wellington Phoenix stood as New Zealand’s sole elite football club, attracting top talent and consistently challenging Australian teams. However, the landscape shifted dramatically with the establishment of Auckland FC, leading to an exodus of key players towards the new rival.

Consequently, the Phoenix saw significant departures, including Kolakowski, Chico, Sutton, and crucially, New Zealand national team forward Kosta Barbarouses. Despite these losses, Wellington made only a handful of reasonable transfers, hoping to maintain their competitive edge. However, the season has unfolded predictably for the club. They suffered an early exit from the cup, surprisingly losing to a non- side. Their opening league fixture against Perth resulted in a disappointing draw, characterized by a truly dreadful first-half performance where they conceded two quick goals. Given these early struggles, their prospects for the season appear bleak.

For a significant period, Brisbane Roar had been striving to build a competitive squad. Over several years, their youth academy flourished, and the club ultimately matured, successfully assembling a formidable team bolstered by a considerable influx of exciting foreign talent.

This season, the Roar reinforced their squad with notable signings like Vidia and Buzanis, even attracting players from the Greek league. Their resurgence began late last season, where they impressively defeated most rivals and escaped the lower echelons of the league table. Notably, Brisbane distinguished themselves as one of the few teams to genuinely commit to preseason preparation, undertaking an extensive series of warm-up matches. During these games, the squad exhibited strong performances, meticulously honing their teamwork. Their positive momentum carried into the current season, as they justly secured a home victory against Macarthur in the opening round, only slightly faltering after a player was sent off.