The latest round of Arabian Gulf League action saw key fixtures played out at the top and bottom, while local pride was on the line as Bur Dubai-enemies Al Wasl and Al Nasr met.

Here are our star performers:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Marcelo Cirino (Al Nasr)

Most players would have cracked under the pressure. But the Brazilian forward kept his cool twice from the penalty spot to seal the spoils from yet another heated Bur Dubai-derby versus Al Wasl.

Cirino has proven an excellent pick-up on loan from Flamengo, striking eight times in 15 top-flight run-outs from out wide. His most-recent pair will live long in the memory of the Nasr faithful.

Marcelo Cirino (l) in action at Al Wasl (Twitter/ALNasrSC).

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Marcus Berg (Al Ain)

After a tense opening to this summit meeting between bitter Abu Dhabi rivals, a goal of supreme quality was conjured by champions-elect Al Ain.

Omar Abdulrahman set if off out wide in style with some nonchalant step-overs and a back-heeled flick, with the ball soon making its way to Egypt playmaker Hussein El Shahat. A pass of pure precision then sent Berg straight through the middle and he provided a killer finish.

Marcus Berg celebrates against Al Ain (Al Ain).

COACH OF THE WEEK

Mahdi Ali (Shabab Al Ahli)

A return to club management has not been easy going for Ali – not by a long stretch.

The ex-UAE boss finally had a night to savour on Wednesday.

Champions Al Jazira appeared set to inflict a fourth top-flight defeat of his tenure, but his players – many of whom he nurtured through various Whites set-ups – finally produced for him. Shabab Al Ahli swarmed over Jazira, Saeed Jassem and Mohammed Marzooq winning it at the death.

Mahdi Ali earned his third Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club win on Wednesday (Twitter/@alahlicclub).

TALKING POINTS

What’s happening at the bottom?

With only four games left of the season, it’ll take some implosion from here for Al Ain to not claim a first AGL title since 2014/15.

In contrast, it is a mystery what’s going to happen in the relegation battle – and that isn’t just because three teams are separated by one point. There has still been no official decision by the UAE Football Association about whether 2018/19 will feature 12 or 14 teams.

Will the usual two go down, or will there be a repeat of 2012/13’s play-offs? The lack of clarity is cruel.