ABU DHABI // Al Jazira’s hopes of a semi-final spot in the League Cup are out of their hands as they head into a derby match with Al Wahda on Sunday.
Baniyas are a point ahead of Jazira, and a win at Dubai would ensure their place in the last-four stage alongside the group leaders Sharjah, who meet city rivals Al Shaab.
To compound the situation, Jazira will be depleted when they meet neighbours Wahda at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
They will be without five key players: Felipe Caicedo, the Ecuadorean forward; Abdelaziz Barrada, the Moroccan midfielder; and the Emiratis Ali Kasheif, Khamis Ismail and Ali Mabkhout, are all on national-team duty.
Stefano Cusin, Jazira’s assistant coach, said his side can cope with the absences.
“The head coach [Walter Zenga] has full trust in his entire squad and will have a strong line-up. He expects those who are selected in place of the absent players to perform and prove their worth,” he said.
Cusin said Zenga would make sure the team did not start worrying about the Baniyas result.
“We don’t want to make that mistake of thinking too much about the result of the other game between Baniyas and Dubai but just focus on winning the game we play,” Cusin said.
“We’ll see what happens thereafter, because a game against Wahda, regardless of the positions, is always special and exciting for the players as well as for our fans.
“To win against them requires a strong fighting spirit, strong mentality and full concentration, and I feel our players will go in to this game knowing all these facts.”
Wahda have no hope of making the knock-out rounds and are without Hamdan Al Kamali, Eisa Ahmed and Salem Saleh because of international duty.
However, manager Jose Peseiro said they will treat the game just like any other.
“The players must respect the club shirt when they are on the pitch,” the Portuguese said.
“It is always a big game against Jazira whatever situation we are in. There is pride at stake. Our approach to every game is to win and play at the highest level, and this game will be no different.”
He also hinted at providing some fringe players an opportunity by leaving some of his key players, such as Ismail Matar and the Argentine duo Damian Diaz and Sebastian Tagliabue, on the bench.
“Providing some of the young players the opportunity to play doesn’t mean we are going understrength. In fact, those provided with the opportunity will be more motivated to prove their selection,” Peseiro said.
Meanwhile, Baniyas are looking for their first win in four games under Adnan Hamad, the Iraqi who replaced the Uruguayan Jorge da Silva last month.
They meet a Dubai team who are lagging at the bottom in both the Arabian Gulf League and their League Cup group.
It is more straightforward in Group B, with Al Dhafra (12) and Al Ahli (10) already through to the semi-finals. Dhafra travel to Ras Al Khaimah to face Emirates, Al Ahli play at home against neighbours Al Shabab and Al Nasr make the short trip to the Zabeel Stadium for a meeting with Al Wasl.
apassela@thenational.ae
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Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Aggro%20Dr1ft
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Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
The biog:
Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, basic Russian
Favourite food: Pizza
Best food on the road: rice
Favourite colour: silver
Favourite bike: Gold Wing, Honda
Favourite biking destination: Canada
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Company%20Profile
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