A blockbuster return after the international break is guaranteed when leaders Sharjah host resurgent Al Nasr in the Arabian Gulf League.
This duo have been the class of the field in 2020/21. The King will defend on Friday the division’s only 100-per-cent record, while Nasr are on a four-match winning run inspired by the burgeoning partnership between Israel playmaker Dia Saba and UAE centre forward Sebastian Tagliabue.
“Our preparations are going well and focus is high,” said Sharjah defender Abdullah Ghanem. “The difference of two points between us and Al Nasr increases the importance of the match, as we continue our steady journey towards preserving the title.”
Stuttering Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club and Al Jazira, meanwhile, will be out to prove their enduring title credentials in Saturday’s heavyweight bout.
These giants come into match-week six well off the searing pace set by 2018/19 champions Sharjah after flurries of draws. A positive result will flip the narrative, while another setback can only increase anxieties.
Worries of a different kind dominate when third-bottom Fujairah host bottom-placed Hatta. Both have collected just one point and were in the relegation places when coronavirus called a halt to 2019/20 during March.
“We play to snatch the three points and there is no room for any negative result,” said Wolves supremo Goran Tufegdzic.
Al Ain must continue their climb up the standings against inconsistent Al Wasl. The 13-time record champions ended their worst start since 2007/08 with a flood of late goals versus Al Dhafra last time out.
A severely depleted Al Wahda were eliminated in the Arabian Gulf Cup’s play-off round last week, but will be closer to full strength versus Ajman.
Bani Yas should need to end a three-match winless streak in all competitions if they are to maintain a top-three spot when they welcome lowly Ittihad Kalba and Dhafra – who’ve conceded 12 goals in their last three fixtures – must extricate themselves from a tailspin against 13th-placed Khor Fakkan.
MATCH-WEEK SIX FIXTURES
Friday
18:00 Al Wasl v Al Ain
18:00 Bani Yas v Ittihad Kalba
21:00 Sharjah v Al Nasr
21:00 Fujairah v Hatta
Saturday
18:00 Al Wahda v Ajman
18:00 Al Dhafra v Khor Fakkan
21:00 Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club v Al Jazira