Australia’s two biggest stars in English football will clash in one of many exciting battles between Caltex Socceroos over the weekend.
Not only will Aaron Mooy and Maty Ryan meet in Huddersfield Town’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, but Jackson Irvine and Massimo Luongo will also face off in the Championship.
Tom Rogic has a chance to win more silverware with Celtic, with the Scottish giants taking on Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup decider, while Alex Gersbach’s Rosenborg feature in the Norwegian Football Cup Final.
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And there is a huge match on the cards for Mitch Langerak, too, with his Nagoya Grampus side going into the final day of the J-League season in the relegation play-off spot.
Read on to find out where your Caltex Socceroos are in action this weekend, with all times in AEDT!
In-form Mooy set for Ryan meeting
Buoyed by an excellent double in Huddersfield’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday morning, Mooy will return to the John Smith’s Stadium hoping to find a way past Caltex Socceroos goalkeeper Ryan.
Huddersfield’s latest win took them out of the English Premier League relegation zone and they are unbeaten in three, giving them confidence ahead of a meeting against a Brighton side who have stuttered in recent times.
The Terriers have scored just twice in their last eight home Premier League matches, though, raising hopes of a Ryan clean sheet in the clash that begins at 2am on Sunday.
Starting at the same time is a battle between Irvine and Luongo, who partnered each other in central midfield in Australia’s 4-0 friendly win over Kuwait in October.
The Caltex Socceroos teammates meet at Loftus Road, with Luongo’s Queens Park Rangers in great form, having risen to eighth after a slow start to the campaign.
With four wins from their past five, QPR will be confident against Irvine’s Hull City, who sit in the relegation zone despite losing just one of their last five.
All on the line in Japan
Langerak and his Nagoya Grampus teammates go into the final day of the J-League season knowing that their fate is in their hands after a huge win at second-placed Sanfreece Hiroshima last time out.
Nagoya sit third last and in the relegation play-off spot, one of three teams on 40 points.
They cannot be relegated automatically and host one of the other teams they are level on points with - Shonan Bellmare - at 4pm on Saturday.
Because Shonan have a better goal difference than Nagoya, a draw may not be enough for Langerak’s men to avoid a tricky relegation play-off.
But victory will ensure their survival and, as a result, a big crowd is expected at the Nagoya Mizuho Athletic Stadium for the club’s first home match in almost a month.
Andrew Nabbout’s Urawa Red Diamonds will be in action on the final day, too, hosting an FC Tokyo side who sit two points ahead of them.
Victory would likely ensure Urawa end the season in fifth. That match also kicks off at 4pm on Saturday.
Rogic, Gersbach’s sides set for cup final appearances
After impressing on his return from a minor knee complaint in the UEFA Europa League on Friday morning, Rogic is sure to feature in the Scottish League Cup final on Monday (2am kickoff).
Celtic face Aberdeen at Hampden Park in Glasgow buoyed by a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Rogic got through 90 minutes against Rosenborg on Friday and impressed, having four shots on goal and playing at his creative best.
With Hibernian winless in five Scottish Premiership clashes, the tension will be high when Neil Lennon’s side visit Kilmarnock at 2am on Sunday.
Hibs led 2-0 against rock-bottom Dundee last time out but were held to a draw and Mark Milligan, Martin Boyle and Jamie Maclaren will have important roles to play in this trip to the fourth-placed side.
Like Rogic, Gersbach could be involved in a cup final, too, with Rosenborg meeting Stromsgodset in Oslo in the Norwegian Football Cup decider (11.15pm Sunday)
Gersbach was not in Rosenborg’s matchday squad for Friday’s UEFA Europa League clash with Celtic, though.
Leckie out to make it three in three
With two goals in his last two appearances, Mathew Leckie will be in good spirits ahead of Hertha Berlin’s trip to Hannover (1.30am Sunday).
Leckie backed up a goal for the Caltex Socceroos against Lebanon with an important strike in his first Bundesliga start for the season.
And having properly recovered from a knee injury, Leckie looks set to shine in the German top flight.
Robbie Kruse could feature in Germany’s second tier, too, if he has recovered from a minor groin problem.
His VfL Bochum side go to Magdeburg for an 11.30pm kickoff on Sunday.
Around the world …
Milos Degenek’s Red Star Belgrade will look to bounce back from UEFA Europa League disappointment when they host Vozdovac (4am Monday).
In the Netherlands, Trent Sainsbury and Aziz Behich will be hopeful of first-team minutes as high-flying PSV go to Feyenoord (12.30am Monday).
Fresh off his global recognition for establishing charity ‘Barefoot to Boots’ at the FIFPro Awards, Awer Mabil will be in action for Midtjylland when they visit Randers (12am Monday).
Also in Denmark, Mustafa Amini’s AGF host Vejle at 4am on Tuesday.
Tomi Juric’s Luzern side meet Sion at 5am on Sunday, while Danny Vukovic’s Genk go to Anderlecht in a Belgian First Division blockbuster at 4am on Monday.
Elsewhere, Jimmy Jeggo’s Austria Vienna host St. Polten (3am Sunday) and Matt Jurman’s Al Ittihad host Al Hazm in Saudi Arabia at 2.15am on Monday.
Closer to home …
A host of Caltex Socceroos are in action on our shores, too, with Thomas Deng and Josh Risdon set to do battle as Melbourne Victory take on Western Sydney Wanderers at 7.50pm on Saturday evening.
Craig Goodwin’s Adelaide United host Brisbane Roar at 7.50pm on Friday, while Rhyan Grant’s Sydney FC go to Central Coast Mariners for a 5.35pm kickoff on Saturday.
And Dimitri Petratos will be in action as Round 6 of the Hyundai A-League season comes to a close when the Newcastle Jets take on Melbourne City at 7pm on Sunday.
