Football fatigue
It will be interesting to see how the fans respond to this weekend’s football.
The Gulf Cup of Nations has just finished and most UAE fans would have been glued to their television sets over the past two weeks watching the matches live, or expressing their feelings on social media. They have probably spent their emotions following UAE’s journey through the tournament.
So it would be fair to expect that the fans might be a bit football weary at the moment.
Even if they are not, the AGL is probably not at the top of their priority list. The National Day is a couple of days away and most youngsters will be busy getting their drives decorated for next week’s celebrations.
Can Wahda stay ahead?
The Al Wahda and Al Jazira fans might have a tough time deciding whether to take their cars to the workshops to get them decked out or visit the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium tomorrow night for what promises to be an engrossing duel, with the top position at stake.
Jazira are one point behind Wahda and top spot on the table is up for grabs for the victors in the Abu Dhabi derby. The portents are good for the hosts.
Their striker Ali Mabkhout has returned from Riyadh as the Gulf Cup’s top scorer and Eric Gerets will be hoping he can keep that form going against Wahda.
Jose Peseiro’s men, then, have a tough challenge ahead as they try to protect their lead and an impressive 18-match unbeaten streak in league games, stretching back into the 2013/14 season.
If their Kuwaiti defender Hussain Fadhel is ruled out, that task will get even tougher against opponents who have scored at least twice in each of their league matches this season.
Al Ain’s injury woes
Five points behind the leaders, but with two games in hand, Al Ain will be aiming to rise up the table. But it will not be easy given their list of injuries.
Omar Abdulrahman is out for two weeks, Jires Kembo Ekoko is injured as well and Asamoah Gyan only recently returned to training.
Seven other players are just back from the Gulf Cup and will get little time to adjust to their club surroundings.
Al Nasr should be fancying their chances then when they visit the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium tomorrow.
Opportunity for strugglers
The top-of-the-table clash between Jazira and Wahda will hog the limelight this week, but the opening match of the weekend today between Sharjah and Ajman could be a significant one as well.
Both teams are among the bottom-dwellers at the moment, with six points each, but the Sharjah coach Paulo Bonamigo is confident his team are finally turning the corner following their performances in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Sharjah are at the top of Group B after stunning Ahli 4-1 and returning with a 1-1 draw from Wahda in their past two Cup matches. But there have been a few upsets in the Cup matches – Ajman beat Jazira 2-0 at home and Kalba have defeated Al Ain.
With the top clubs missing their stars, whether these Cup matches can really be an indicator of a team’s form will be answered in the next few weeks.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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