Dubai: UAE league and cup holders Al Ahli face another test of contention when they travel to current league leaders Al Wahda in the first round of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Thursday.
The Red Knights have had a disappointing start to their league title defence and sit fifth in the standings having picked up just eight points from the first five games of the season. Coach Cosmin Olaroiu will look to reverse his side’s fading dominance with a strong start to the cup against in form Al Wahda.
The Maroons lead the league standings with 13 points from five games, and will look to continue their winning run in the cup.
Both sides are likely to field young and experimental reserve squads with the view to strengthening their league campaigns. But wounded Al Ahli will have the added need to defend their cup title, while signalling intent for the league.
The League Cup sees all 14 league teams divided into two groups of seven. After six games in the round robin, where every team plays each other once, the top two will progress to the semi-finals and final, in January. Due to there being odd numbers in each group one team will have to sit out of each round.
Al Ahli are record two-time cup winners, having also lifted the six-year-old title in 2012 under Quique Sanchez Flores.
Thursday’s action also has 2009 winners Al Ain host Ittihad Kalba and 2010 winners Al Jazira travel to Al Nasr. Friday’s action sees 2011 winners Al Shabab host Al Wasl, while Fujairah travel to Al Dhafra and Sharjah host Bani Yas. Ajman, the 2013 champions, and Emirates are the two teams from each group that will sit out of action in round one.
