Dubai: Al Ahli will not only win their seventh UAE league title with victory at home to Bani Yas on Friday, but they will also surpass their own record points tally.
Since the Arabian Gulf League became a 14-team, 26-game competition in 2012/13, the highest points total was 64 set by the Red Knights in 2013/14, with 62 and 60 point totals either side from Al Ain.
Al Ahli are currently on 62 points, six points clear of second-placed Al Ain with two games remaining at home to Bani Yas on Friday, and Al Shaab on May 8.
Even a draw against The Sky Blues this weekend would confirm coach Cosmin Olaroiu’s side their seventh crown.
But if they lose their remaining two games and Al Ain beat both Fujairah away on Thursday and Emirates at home on May 8, The Boss would overtake The Red Knights thanks to a better head-to-head record. Al Ain beat Al Ahli 3-0 at home in December before losing 1-0 away earlier this month.
But Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic is not convinced Al Ahli are about to throw it all away, however.
“We are looking forward to winning the next two matches and strive to exceed the number of points we achieved last season,” said Dalic, whose side are currently on 56 points. “However we will rest some players in preparation for next Tuesday’s last and decisive Asian Champions League group game at home to Nasaf Qarshi [of Uzbekistan].
“We are well aware that the fans aren’t happy with our league standing, but we will redouble our efforts in the Asian Champions League and the upcoming President’s Cup,” he added of their quarter-final clash with Al Wasl on May 12.
Second-from-bottom Fujairah definitely won’t make life easy for Al Ain as they could be relegated with defeat, depending on other results. The east coast club are three points off safety behind Emirates who play Al Jazira at home on Thursday and Sharjah who host Al Wahda on Friday.
“We are well aware of the difficulty of our task against Fujairah,” added Dalic, “Especially as they have no choice but to win.”
If Al Ain do suffer an unlikely defeat away to Fujairah on Thursday, Al Ahli will be confirmed champions 24 hours before they even take to the field.
Elsewhere, Al Wahda will be looking to hold onto third position, which is the final automatic qualifying spot for next year’s Asian Champions League.
The Clarets are two points clear of fourth-placed Al Nasr who travel to already-relegated Al Shaab on Thursday and three points clear of fifth-placed Al Shabab, who play away to Al Dhafra on Friday.
Sixth-placed Al Wasl are also three points behind Al Wahda and host Dibba on Thursday. A consolation for those who miss out on third will be an Asian Champions League play-off spot for the fourth-placed finishing side.
