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Etisalat Pro League Round 21 Preview: Race for Top 4 spot hots up

The Etisalat Pro League is back on schedule this Sunday and Monday, with Round 21 getting underway following last weekend’s rescheduled Round 14 action. Whilst the title race seems almost a formality at this point, there is still plenty to play for in the battle for a top-four finish and the fight against relegation.

The first game of Round 14 kicks off at 5:50pm on Sunday at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club Stadium, as Kalba host Al Ain in a top-versus-bottom clash. Al Ain, who were awarded a 3-0 victory against Al Ahli in Round 14 following a verdict from the Disciplinary Committee, now have a total of 52 points and an 11-point lead at the top of the table, whilst Kalba occupy last position with just 10 points after 20 games. Kalba lost their relegation six-pointer 2-1 against Al Shaab in the last round, severely dashing their hopes of survival, but if they are able to spring a surprise on Al Ain – who may be tired following their midweek trip to Al Rayyan of Qatar in the AFC Champions League – it would go a long way in boosting morale for the struggling side.

Eid Baroot’s revived Al Wasl side will be paid a visit by Dibba Al Fujairah at 5:55pm on Sunday evening, having had two successful away trips in Abu Dhabi with a win at Al Jazira followed by a draw at Al Wahda in the last two rounds. Al Wasl are still a lowly 9th in the League on 24 points, but things are looking up at the Zabeel Stadium with performances and spirit improving game by game. Dibba Al Fujairah, meanwhile, remain in the midst of a relegation battle at second-from-bottom, despite registering some plucky results previously, but the last round saw a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to fellow strugglers Dubai, so Dr. Abdullah Misfer’s team will be looking to bounce back in Round 21.

Following their Round 14 1-1 draw against Al Wasl, Al Wahda face another home game in Round 21 as they welcome Al Nasr to the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi at 8:30pm on Sunday. Al Wahda missed a hatful of chances in their previous match and Branko Ivankovic is sure to have put his players through some extra finishing practice in order to capitalise on the opportunities that come their way against Al Nasr this round, as they seek to turn their 6th position into a top-four spot. Al Nasr, meanwhile, came back from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 at home to Al Jazira in their last League game, and crashed out of the AFC Champions League with a midweek loss at Al Gharafa in Qatar, freeing them up to concentrate on aiming for 4th as they currently sit 5th in the League on 33 points; just one ahead of their opponents.

On Monday evening at 5:55pm, Dubai will play host to Al Dhafra at the Dubai Stadium in Al Awir as Rene Marsiglia’s side hope to have turned a corner having finally got another League win under their belts in Round 14 with a 1-0 victory over Dibba Al Fujairah. Dubai have suffered a slump in the second half of the season, falling to 10th place on 22 points, but a win at home to Al Dhafra would see them move further away from slipping into relegation trouble. Al Dhafra registered an impressive 3-0 away win at Ajman in the previous round and are comfortable in 8th position with 27 points.

Also at 5:55pm, the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai will witness a crunch match in the pursuit for a top-four position as Al Shabab welcome Al Jazira. After stringing together a fine unbeaten run, Marcos Paqueta’s Al Shabab side have wobbled in the League of late - perhaps distracted by their AFC Champions League travels – and they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Bani Yas in Round 14 to leave them 7th in the League on 30 points. Al Jazira’s form has also suffered since the arrival of new head coach Luis Milla, having failed to win a League game since Round 17, seeing them slip from second place to 4th in the table on 36 points. Both teams faced midweek matches, with Al Shabab losing 4-1 away at Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia and Al Jazira being held to a 1-1 home draw by El Jaish of Qatar, but there is no denying that both sides possess players of great quality and will be looking to start their recoveries when they meet on Monday.

The first of the two late games on Monday sees Al Shaab take on Ajman at the Khaled bin Mohamed Stadium at 8:30pm. Al Shaab, buoyed by their crucial 2-1 win over fellow relegation candidates Kalba in Round 14, still sit precariously in 12th place on 14 points, but another win against Ajman – who lost 3-0 at home to Al Dhafra in the last round – will see them pull further away from the drop zone.

Concluding Round 21, 2nd placed Bani Yas take on 3rd placed Al Ahli at the Bani Yas Stadium at 8:30pm on Monday. The two sides have been swapping places with one another for the past couple of rounds, as Al Ahli surrendered second spot last weekend after a controversial game with Al Ain, which saw all three points handed to their opponents by the Disciplinary Committee following an incident involving a fan. Al Ahli will be looking to move on quickly and put the trouble behind them by getting a positive result at Bani Yas, but it will not be easy as both sides are particularly strong in attack.