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Etisalat Pro League (Round 13) Match Preview

After a two week break, the Etisalat Pro League competition 2011/2012 returns on Wednesday February 8th in the Round 13 starting with the Emirates hosting their Dubai rivals Al Ahli at 5:20 pm, Dubai face Al Shabab on the latter pitch at 5:25 pm, and the first night ends with the winter’s champion Al Ain meeting Al Wahda home in Tahnoun bin Mohammad Stadium at 8:00 pm.


Emirates vs. Al Ahli
The second to last Emirates with 7 points in the league table host the red musketeers motivated by their latest 4-2 league-victory over bottom table Dubai. The falcons inspired by the efforts of the new 28 year old Ivorian forward Modibo Diarra have set new plans to survive relegation before the end of the season. Al Ahli keeping the 7th place with 17 points in the table have showed a significant performance lately, beating the 2011 league champions in the Round 12 and their 2-1 Etisalat Cup victory over Group B leaders Al Shabab say the reds still have a lot to show in the upcoming period.


Al Shabab vs. Dubai
Al Shabab keeping the 4th place with 20 points on the pro league standings face the bottom table Dubai at Maktoum bin Rashid stadium. The match is expected to see the debut of Al Shabab’s new Brazilian forward Welker Almeida who filled in the position of Julio Cesar during the transfer window alongside the greens’ professionals Villaneuva, Ciel and Haydarov Azizbek. Dubai coming last with 6 points have nothing left to lose, another defeat is another step into relegation and will make things harder on Al Awir lions. The Lebanese Abbas Atwi, and the French Nicolas Marine are the new transfers the management has signed with in an attempt to escape the jeopardy of falling off.


Al Ain vs. Al Wahda
The boss at the league summit with 27 points, meet their Abu Dhabi opponents in Al Qattarh without the services of the league top striker Asamoah Gyan who is still away with his national team participating in the African Cup of Nations. The return of Ali Al Wahibi and Yasser Al Qahtani alongside Scocco is vital for the purples in a match played home. Al Wahda on the other hand have great desire to win this game, coming 5th in the table with 18 points need to increase their chances of competing over the title and a defeat might make it harder at this phase. Baiano has proved in the previous Etisalat Cup encounter before Al Wasl to be a playmaker despite their 1-2 cup-defeat, and his efforts could help Al Wahda stay on the spot.