Al Jazira aim to extend lead with win over Shabab Al Ahli

With eight matchweeks left in the 2020-21 Arabian Gulf League calendar, it is no wonder that things are heating up at both ends of the table.

Fans will be gearing up for what may be the most anticipated match of the day when Al Jazira host Shabab Al Ahli at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium at 8:15 pm on Saturday.

The Pride of Abu Dhabi enter the game on the back of a valuable 3-0 win over Sharjah that put them at the top of the standings on 40 points. They have another tough task ahead, as they clash with Shabab Al Ahli, who are looking to cruise into the top four and close the gap on the top sides, as their eight-match unbeaten streak put them in fifth place on 32 points, one behind fourth-placed Al Nasr. The guests will also be aiming to keep the momentum alive after booking their spot in the Arabian Gulf Cup final in midweek.

After falling to a 2-1 defeat against Al Dhafra, Al Ain will look to bounce back against Al Wasl when they face off at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium at 5:30 pm. The Boss’ inconsistent performances left them in sixth place on 30 points. They are two points above Al Wasl who have most recently got eliminated from the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final at the hands of Shabab Al Ahli.

Hatta and Fujairah will be preparing for a bottom-of-the-table clash at Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium. The home side linger at the bottom of the standings on five points only from one win and two draws. They sit five points behind guests Fujairah, who are just one spot above the relegation zone. A win would help Fujairah move further away from the relegation zone, while it would revive Hatta’s hopes of remaining in the top-flight.

Ittihad Kalba will be hosting Bani Yas in another exciting matchup. The Sky Blues need to collect the three points to keep their title chances alive, as they currently sit third on 36 points. On the other hand, Ittihad Kalba, who sit in the midtable with 26 points, will be looking to recover after their dramatic elimination from the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final on penalties against Al Nasr.

Meanwhile, the UAE Pro League has announced the nominees for the Arabian Gulf League Best monthly awards, powered by Etisalat, the official sponsor of the Arabian Gulf League, in the Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Coach categories for the month of February, which aligns with the UAEPL’S strategy of motivating outstanding players and improving fan interaction to further improve the competition.

The shortlist for February’s Best Player award includes Al Jazira duo Ali Mabkhout and Thulani Serero, Shabab Al Ahli’s Carlos Eduardo, Ryan Mendes of Al Nasr, and Bani Yas’ Joao Pedro.

The players were nominated based on their performance and contribution with their teams in February. Mabkhout maintained his fine run of form as he helped Al Jazira move to the top of the standings and raised his tally to 17 goals at the top of the goal scoring charts. In addition, his South African teammate Serero was a key player in Al Jazira’s midfield in February, helping the team claim three wins and a draw.