Champions clash
Al Ahli and Al Ain will want to make a statement on Monday night ahead of the month-long break that follows Round 8 of the Arabian Gulf League, but they will have to do it at the expense of the other.
Ahli are defending champions and Al Ain won the two previous titles. Their rivalry has become the league’s most heated, particularly since coach Cosmin Olaroiu crossed over from Al Ain to Ahli before last season.
A large crowd is expected at the Rashid Stadium with significant support for Al Ain.
Ahli have greater need of a victory; they are on 12 points, along with Al Ain, but the latter have two games in hand because of their Asian Champions League commitments last month. The Dubai club have been erratic despite their impressive array of talent.
They needed a last-minute goal to escape with a 2-2 draw away to Al Dhafra last week and the back four have been shaky. Grafite, their Brazilian striker, does not seem as dangerous; he is 35, which could be a factor in his tepid start.
Al Ain, though, have played their past two matches without the key attacking players Omar Abdulrahman and Asamoah Gyan, and the latter seems unlikely to play. Jires Kembo Ekoko also is an injury doubt.
Olaroiu summed it up nicely. “If you say it’s a good time for us to play against Al Ain, then I suppose it’s also a good time for them to play against Ahli,” he said.
Al Wahda staying top?
The Abu Dhabi side have been the surprise team of the season. They are unbeaten in seven matches and sit atop the standings, a point ahead of Al Jazira.
Jose Peseiro’s side have, though, lost four key players to league rivals over the past two years and settled for draws against strugglers Al Wasl and Ajman in their past two league matches. Wahda cannot afford to stumble again on Monday night, at home to Fujairah, the feisty promoted side.
Some believe Wahda, who have yet to play most of the top clubs, may be finding their level. As always, they will need Sebastian Tagliabue and Damian Diaz to lead the attack, and a contribution from Ismail Matar, the 31-year-old veteran who saw his first action last week, would be welcome.
They will be without two key players: the central defender Hamdan Al Kamali is out with a hamstring strain, and the Moroccan midfielder Adil Hermach is suspended.
Peseiro sees no problem. “I have full belief in all my players and we will be able to cope with this situation against Fujairah,” he said.
Wahda may not be the favourite to win the title, but they would not mind spending the four-week league break at the top of the table.
Waiting to take off
Two of the most decorated clubs in the country, Al Wasl and Sharjah, are struggling to generate momentum and their meeting on Tuesday has a hint of desperation about it.
Wasl own seven league championships and Sharjah five, but each have only six points from seven matches. Sharjah again are struggling to score and Wasl again are going through upheaval, having made a coaching change already, which brought in Gabriel Calderon to replace Jorginho.
Wasl’s draw away to Wahda last weekend provided a moment of optimism, but it evaporated when they lost 2-1 at home to Baniyas.
A loser in this one, at Sharjah, could find themselves in a relegation battle.
apassela@thenational.ae
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