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Al Ahli and Al Ain go wheel to wheel heading into final few laps

Dubai - Defending champions Al Ain were cruising away in the initial stages until they came across a few blips along the way to relinquish the lead to Al Ahli.

After a three-week international break, the Arabian Gulf League resumes this weekend and it throws up the prospect of a fight to the finish as the UAE top flight enters its business end.
Only five rounds remain and the League is interestingly poised with Al Ahli and Al Ain going wheel to wheel heading into the final few laps. Defending champions Al Ain were cruising away in the initial stages until they came across a few blips along the way to relinquish the lead to Al Ahli.
A point separates the two at the top of the tree and knowing that their rivalry is as fierce as they come, it should make for a tantalising story between the 'The Boss' and the 'Red Knights. Al Ain are gunning for a fourth League title in five years and a record 13th, while Al Ahli have their sights set on a second in three years and a seventh in the UAE top flight. So, the upcoming bunch of fixtures are vital and they have to ensure that they don't step on to any banana skins as they chase their destinies.
But the path isn't an easy one for both, beginning with the 22nd round which runs over from Friday to Sunday. Al Ahli are the road to Abu Dhabi to face-off against Al Jazira at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Sunday evening, while Al Ain are at home to Al Nasr at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on the same night. So, one eye will be on the UAE capital and the other on the Garden City of Al Ain, on how it will pan out.
Al Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic is wary of Al Ain, who are gathering some of their old form again, especially after posting a creditable win in the continental competition last week. Al Nasr, are currently fifth in the League on 33 points and are involved in a three-way fight with Al Wahda and Al Wasl for a top four finish. Al Wahda, the newly crowned Arabian Gulf Cup champions as well as Al Wasl are on 35 points.
The Blue Wave are coming off a draw in the AFC Champions League. "This time we have two big responsibilities towards our die hard supporters who root for us in times of difficulty and also when the going is good," Jovanovic said.
"They (Al Ain) are the defending champions and it's a great challenge ahead of us. They are a quality team and I believe it's going to be a good game because both teams like to play offensively, and I believe, in the end, we can turn things around after the disastrous encounter the last time, when we, after dominating the midfield for a good amount of time, let in soft goals," he continued.
The last time the sides met, the Blue Wave had missed the services of their in-form hands like Tariq Ahmed, Jires Kembo-Ekoko, Ahmed Ibrahim, Khalifa Mubarak and Mahmoud Khamis through injury and suspensions. Al Nasr went on to lose that game 3-0 at the Al Maktoum Stadium last November.
"A side should have full time men with depth on the bench and that is one big advantage we have with us. Al Ain has a big reputation of being very very hard to overcome on home turf. This weekend's return fixture is of great importance for us, more so as we have a chance to jump places in the league. We have been having some stagnant form of late but the Asian fixture recently has given us the missing element that has evaded us in recent times," he added.