DUBAI // Al Ahli hope to put the disappointing results of their last two Arabian Gulf League matches behind them as they host Al Jazira on Saturday.
The defending league and Arabian Gulf Cup champions, manager Cosmin Olaroiu’s men have been struggling to establish their supremacy this season and were forced to split points with Ajman and Fujairah in their last two matches.
Having dropped seven points already, Ahli are fifth in the standings, five points behind leaders Al Wahda (13), while Jazira are second on 11, with their Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic in rampaging form.
The former Roma and Juventus star has already scored 10 goals, six more than the next-best player, Luis Jimenez of Ahli, and containing him will be a massive challenge for Olaroiu’s defensive contingent.
Led by Vucinic, Jazira have scored 15 goals in their five matches, while Ahli have scored nine.
“Jazira are always one of the best teams in the league. So you can never expect an easy game,” Olaroiu said on Thursday.
“They have shown attacking football, scoring lots of goals, especially Vucinic, who is a great player.”
Olaroiu, however, insisted that he is not too worried.
“They are a very strong team and will fight for the title,” he said. “But every team has its weaknesses and strengths, and so there should be no fear.”
Ahli have been disappointing at home this season, with only one points from two matches. They lost 4-2 to Al Shabab and were held 0-0 by Ajman.
Against Jazira, their record at the Rashid Stadium is not any better. In the past six seasons of the league’s professional era, Ahli have only two wins against the Abu Dhabi team from six matches at home, while the visitors have won two and drawn twice.
“We always aspire to be at the top of the standings,” Olaroiu said.
“But there is still a long season ahead. In the past three seasons, teams have won the league title by a big margin, but it is not going to be that easy every time.
“We are going to see a much tighter race this season.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
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