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The Etisalat Pro-League competition returns

The Etisalat Pro-League competition is due to start back  tomorrow Sunday, December 12th after a six-week break which witnessed the participation of the UAE Senior and Olympic Football Teams in the GCC Tournament and Asia Games held recently in Yemen and China respectively. The League matches came to a halt after Round 8, with Al Jazira finishing on top of the standings with 20 points. Round 9 was rescheduled to kick off this Sunday, with three games to be played in the first day and two others on the following day (Monday 13th). All teams are likely to have their key players back after they have finished their national duties. The Al Wahda vs Al Ahli match, which was due to take place on Monday this week, was postponed because of the former's participation in the FIFA Club World Cup currently being held in Abu Dhabi. The new date for this match will be fixed soon.

Tomorrow's program will start with Al Ain hosting Kalba at 6:15pm at Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Stadium in Qattara. The hosts are sitting in 8th position with 10 points, after winning only two matches against Dubai 4-3 and Al Nasr 3-1, losing to Al Ahli 1-2 and to Bani Yas 3-0, and drawing four times against Sharjah1-1, Al Wahda 0-0, Al Dhafra 1-1 and Al Wasl 2-2. The visiting team are still at the bottom of the ladder with a single point, which they gained following their 2-2 draw against Al Ahli in the 3rd Week of the Etisalat Pro-League. They have lost all their other games and are still looking for their first win with the hope of collecting more points that might help them to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

The second match of the day will see the two Dubai City squads, Dubai and Al Wasl, face-off at the former's pitch, kick off at 6:15pm. Al Wasl have lost their leadership after being beaten by their competitors, Al Jazira 3-1 in the 6th Week, and are now sitting in 3rd place with 16 points. Their hosts Dubai's situation is similar to that of Kalba, after also losing seven games, however they have maintained a single victory when they beat Al Dhafra 5-3 in Week 8 to remain in 11th position with three points.

On the other hand, Al Jazira, the current leaders of the competition with 20 points, are to travel to Dubai to play the concluding game of the day against Al Shabab, who are currently in 6th place after collecting 12 points off four wins and four losses. Kick off for this match is at 8:30pm. Al Jazira are the only team who keep their record clean without a single defeat thus far, while their hosts Al Shabab along with Al Nasr and Dubai are the only three teams who remain without a draw. Al Jazira are keen to continue their brilliant display to remain on top of the standings, whilst the home team will try to add three more points to hinder the successful march of their contenders, and at the same time stay close to the competing teams in front.

This week's matches will conclude on Monday, December 13, when Al Dhafra host Dubai-based Al Nasr at their ground in the Western Region at 6:15pm and Bani Yas face Sharjah at the latter's pitch, kick off 8:30pm. Al Nasr have won three games and lost five to collect nine points, which sees them in 9th position, two points ahead of their hosts Al Dhafra who are close behind with seven points. Both sides will be fighting hard to come out with three valuable points, keeping the winners a safe distance away from the relegation zone.

Sharjah and their visitors Bani Yas will play the last match of this week which will be broadcasted in English language commentary on both Dubai Sports Channel and Abu Dhabi Sports Channel. The home team are in 7th place with 11 points, seven points behind their rivals Bani Yas who have 18 points, putting them in 2nd position on the table.