Three high-stakes showdowns highlight ADNOC Pro League Round 20

Match schedule

According to Sharjah 24: WAM, the match week begins with Al Wahda facing Al Nasr tomorrow, followed by Al Jazira taking on Al Wasl on Monday, and Shabab Al Ahli clashing with Al Ain, also on Monday. The round will wrap up next Thursday with the postponed fixture between Sharjah and Bani Yas due to Sharjah's participation in the Asian Cup.

Al Wahda vs. Al Nasr: A critical clash

In the opening match, Al Wahda, currently in third place with 34 points, will host Al Nasr, in eighth place with 26 points, at Al Nahyan Stadium. Al Nasr aims to secure their position among the league's top teams, while Al Wahda looks to bounce back from their recent setback against Al Bataeh.

Historically, the two teams have met 31 times, with Al Wahda leading with 17 wins to Al Nasr’s four, while 10 encounters have ended in draws. Al Wahda's coach Darko Milanić emphasized the importance of the match, stating that the team needs to showcase their potential and solid teamwork to achieve a desirable outcome. He also confirmed that player Kevin Agudelo will be unavailable due to injury. Notably, both teams will be depending on their top scorers: Al Wahda's Omar Khribin, with 13 goals, is second in the scoring charts, while Al Nasr's Ali Mabkhout, with 9 goals, sits fourth.

Al Jazira vs. Al Wasl: A battle of wounded teams

In another key matchup, Al Jazira, fourth with 30 points, will clash with fifth-placed Al Wasl, who also has 30 points, at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. After both teams experienced defeats in the President's Cup, they will be eager to make amends for their fans following losses to Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli, respectively.

This will mark the 32nd encounter between the two sides, with Al Jazira leading the historical series with 18 victories, compared to Al Wasl’s six wins and seven draws.

Shabab Al Ahli vs. Al Ain: Leaders in search of form

On the same day, leaders Shabab Al Ahli, with 48 points, will meet sixth-placed Al Ain, who have 29 points, at Rashid Stadium. Both teams will seek to reset momentum after Shabab Al Ahli's previous goalless draw with Sharjah and Al Ain’s 3-2 loss to Dibba Al Hisn. Notably, in their professional-era clashes, Al Ain holds a slight edge with 13 wins over Shabab Al Ahli's 10, along with eight draws.

Additional fixtures in Round 20

Additional fixtures during Round 20 include Dibba Al Hisn facing Khorfakkan on Friday at Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Stadium. Saturday will see Al Orouba take on Kalba at Dibba Stadium, while Al Bataeh will meet Ajman at Khalid bin Mohammed Stadium.

Conclusion: Awaiting the final showdown

The round will conclude next Thursday when second-placed Sharjah (41 points) faces off against tenth-placed Bani Yas (22 points) at Sharjah Stadium.