Etisalat Pro-League: Plenty left to play for

Abu Dhabi: The Etisalat Pro-League may have already been won by Al Ain and Kalba were relegated two weeks ago, but there is still fierce competition for places at the top and bottom.

Second-place Al Ahli look odds-on to snatch second place from Bani Yas, while Al Shaab look set to pip Dibba to 12th place.

Al Ahli have 48 points, four more than Bani Yas in third place, and they face Ajman on Saturday night. Ajman are brimming with confidence following their deserved victory in the final of the Etisalat Cup earlier this week, when they beat Al Jazira 2-1 to claim their first professional title.

With plenty of commitments ahead, Al Ahli coach Quique Sanchez Flores may play a second-string side as they will face Al Shabab in the final of the President’s Cup on May 28 and any injuries or suspensions might jeopardise their chances of winning the trophy.

At the bottom, Al Shaab, with 21 points, have the better chance of remaining in the top league. They need to beat Al Wasl on Saturday or achieve the same result achieved by Dibba, who have 17 points, against Kalba and they will secure their place in the elite division.

Also on Saturday night, there is the not insignificant matter of the Abu Dhabi derby between Al Wahda and Al Ain. And while the match will have no great effect upon their places in the standings, it still remains a fierce rivalry, which evokes huge interest among both clubs’ sets of supporters.

But the two teams will miss the services of some of their best players such as Esmail Matar and Hamdan Al Kamali, for Al Wahda, while Al Ain playermaker Omar Abdul Rahman is suspended.

All the matches will kick off at 7.40pm on Saturday night, except the Bani Yas-Al Jazira encounter, which was postponed until Monday because of Bani Yas’ obligations in the GCC Clubs Championship on Friday night.