UAE Professional League Committee - UAE Pro League Committee

Al Ain-Al Wahda a high profile first round penultimate match

A high profile match will see both hosts Al Ain and the visiting team Al Wahda fighting against each other in their Etisalat Pro League penultimate game of the first round due to kick off on Monday, December 10 at Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Qattara. Such big encounters especially in the "Clasico" and "derby" clashes are not subject to absences or injuries of the players. This rule is applicable to Al Ain, leaders of the Etisalat league Competition with 28 points, and Al Wahda who are in 6^th position with 18 points when they meet in their tomorrow’s match at 8:00pm. The game is expected to be exciting despite of the absence of Al Wahda’s some key players and due to this fact it is difficult to predict the outcome of the game.

In the same day, Dibba Al Fujairah will host bottom-placed Kalba at 04:40 pm in a tough game which comes in light of the modest results obtained by the two teams so far in the competition. This game is characterized by the presence of Kalba’s new Brazilian coach Zomario who leads the team after replacing Tunisia Lotfi Al Banzarti.

In one of the most exciting matches in this round, Al Jazira who surpassed Al Shaab with big difficulty in the last round will host Bani Yas who lost to Al Ain in the previous round. The game will be played at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, kick off at 4:50pm. The game is a good opportunity for both teams to add three points and move forward to compete for the championship title, as Bani Yas have 22 points and are staying in second place, while  Al Jazira are in fifth position with a record of 21 points. A loss in this match will increase the difference of points between the losers and Al Ain if the latters win against Al Wahda. 

In the last match of the first day, Al Shaab will travel to Dubai to face Al Wasl at Zabeel Stadium at 8:00pm. The hosts are keen enough not to lose more points. Al Shaab have proved to be a good team after they could fight against big teams like Al Ain and Al Jazira despite of losing both games. Al Wasl are occupying ninth place with 14 points while Al Shaab are sitting in 12^th spot with only 7 points, and are seeking to win in this game so as  to move away from the relegation zone.

The remaining games of this round will be concluded the following day with Al Shabab facing Dubai in a difficult task for the two teams at Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium at 4:45pm. The formers began to collect points during the last two rounds and are currently in 8^th place with 14 points, while Dubai are in 7^th position with 15 points.

In another match, Al Dhafra will take on Al Nasr at Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium in the Western Region at 4:55pm. The hosts will play with high spirits under the guidance of their new French coach Banned, following the sacking of Bosnian Jamal Haji at the end of the last game against Al Wahda. They will have back both expatriate players Amara Diane and Fawzi Bashir. Al Nasr are staying in fourth place with 22 points while Al Dhafra are in 11^th place with 11 points.

In the match of the penultimate week of the first round, Ajman will face Al Ahli at Rashid bin Saeed Stadium in Ajman at 8:00pm. The hosts are in 10^th spot with 12 points whereas their opponents are taking third position with 22 points.