This is the 'Al Clasico'

Dubai - The top teams in the Arabian Gulf League clash on Thursday night with the title on the line

It is a Thursday night, it is Al Ahli at their cauldron that is the Rashid Stadium, and against Al Ain, with the Arabian Gulf League on the line.
It cannot get any bigger than this. Al Ahli and Al Ain's rivalry is as fierce as they come and there has always been that added spark when the two sides meet. But this one is much more than who plays the best brand of football in the country and who gets the bragging rights. This is no ordinary League fixture. This is the 'Al Clasico' in the true sense of the word.
Make no mistake, this may well decide which way the glistening Arabian Gulf League shield is headed.
Currently, it sits at the iconic Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in the Garden city with Al Ain holding onto it. But that grasp has been loosened with four matches to go with Al Ahli hovering like a vulture, waiting to pounce.
The Red Knights have more or less done everything right since ascending to the top. And the Al Qusais club haven't shown any signs of flinching as they go about in search of a seventh League title. If anything, Cosmin Olaroiu's men look as menacing as ever, especially, on the evidence of their previous two fixtures, against Al Jazira last week, and against Al Shabab at home, prior to international break. 
Indeed, the Rashid Stadium will resemble a cauldron with it bathed in a sea of red - Al Ahli's colours. And one can only imagine the noise as Al Ahli fans and the travelling Al Ain faithfuls crank up the volume.
And the sense of the occasion was not lost on Al Ahli coach Olaroiu.
"We have reached the point where we have to play against the team fighting with us for the League title. We expect it to be the most beautiful game in the League," said Olaroiu.
Al Ahli have opened up a three-point cushion and that could turn into six if the Red Knights come on the right side of the result over the weekend. Pertinently, it will leave them primed for the title and more or less extinguish Al Ain's hopes.
But Olaroiu wasn't getting carried away and said that it still was a long road ahead.
"Even if we win, nothing is finished. We have other difficult games still to come, and if somebody knows that they will give us the trophy after this game then this would be very good but of course this is not the case. Winning is an important option towards concluding the title race but nothing is final," he felt.
Al Ain, though haven't done themselves any favours after they were left to salvage a draw against Al Nasr, last time out.
Coach Zlatko Dalic termed it one of the 'worst matches of the season,' but the Croatian took comfort in the fact that his quality side cannot come up with two bad games on the bounce.
james@khaleejtimes.com