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Etisalat Pro League Round 25 Preview

The penultimate round of the 2012-2013 Etisalat Pro League season takes place on Saturday 18th May and Monday 20th May, and although the League title was sewn up by Al Ain several weeks ago there is still plenty to be contested in the table, particularly in the battle to beat the drop.

Al Shaab slipped up in the last round when a win would have secured safety for the Sharjah-based club, but they have another bite at the apple on Saturday as they host Al Wasl at the Khaled bin Mohamed Stadium, kicking off at 7:40pm. Though Al Wasl have little left to play for in what has been a disappointing campaign for the club, Eid Baroot’s men will not be an easy touch for Al Shaab as the Emirati coach aims to end the season on a positive note. If Al Shaab can win the game, they will automatically secure Etisalat Pro League football for the club next season and condemn Dibba Al Fujairah to relegation.

Already-relegated Kalba play host to battling Dibba Al Fujairah, who must win their last two games and hope that Al Shaab capitulate badly in order to stand a chance of staying in the division. Dibba Al Fujairah kept their hopes alive by beating Al Ahli 1-0 in Round 24 and seeing Al Shaab lose to Al Jazira, and spectators can be certain that Dr. Abdullah Misfer’s men will give it their all at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club Stadium on Saturday at 7:40pm.

There will be an Emirate of Abu Dhabi derby on Saturday at 7:40pm as Al Wahda host already-crowned champions Al Ain at the Al Nahyan Stadium. Al Wahda have floundered of late but managed a 2-1 away win at Al Dhafra in Round 24, as Josef Hickersberger does his best to get his misfiring strikers back on form to end the season. Al Ain drew 2-2 with Bani Yas last time out and though the title is well and truly wrapped up, Cosmin Olaroiu will want his men to give their best right until the end of the campaign, especially in a match of local pride such as this.

In another derby, Dubai will welcome Al Shabab to the Dubai Stadium in Al Awir at 7:40pm on Saturday, and it can be expected that Marcos Paqueta will rotate the majority of his squad having played the first leg of their AFC Champions League final 16 game on Wednesday, with a tricky return trip to Esteghlal in Iran coming up next week. As Al Shabab sit comfortably in 6th place, they could be forgiven for turning their attention to recovering a 4-2 deficit in the continental competition and giving some other squad players a run-out in the League.

Also on Saturday at 7:40pm, Al Dhafra will make the long trip from the western region to Al Nasr’s Al Maktoum Stadium, where the hosts will be without head coach Walter Zenga in the dugout due to his suspension by the Disciplinary Committee. Both teams were on the wrong end of 2-1 losses in the last round and Al Nasr in particular will look to get back to winning ways as they still have their sights set on a top-four finish, whilst Al Dhafra have little to play for at this stage in 9th place.

Saturday’s last game at 7:40pm sees newly-crowned Etisalat Cup champions Ajman travel to the Rashid Stadium to take on the League’s second-placed side Al Ahli. With both teams offering great attacking potential, the game is sure to be end-to-end and we could see plenty of goals as the League’s second-top scorer Grafite, and third-top scorer Boris Kabi go head to head.

Concluding Round 25 at the rescheduled time of 7:45pm on Monday 20th May, Bani Yas will host Al Jazira at the Bani Yas Stadium following the approval of Bani Yas’ request to postpone the game by the Pro League Committee in support of Bani Yas’ participation in the Final of the Gulf Clubs Championship against Al Khor in Qatar on Friday. Bani Yas, who are third in the League, will have two days to recover from their game in Qatar, whilst 4th-placed Al Jazira will enjoy a slightly longer rest following their disappointing Etisalat Cup final loss to Ajman on Tuesday.