Testing times for Al Wahda, Al Jazira

Action from the Al Wahda-Barcelona 'B' game in Spain on Wednesday.

Abu Dhabi clubs are having a testing time in Europe. All the top teams have rightfully chosen tough opponents as they seek to be battle-ready for the new football season.
Wednesday clash saw the 'Pride of Abu Dhabi' start their German exercise with a match against three-time DFB-Pokal winners Hamburger SV.
Peruvian winger Jefferson Farfan netted the first goal of the match. A one-two between Farfan and midfielder Khalfan Mubarak ended up with the former safely depositing the ball into the right corner of the goal. But the celebrations ended there as the German side went on offensive scoring five goals in reply.
And in Spain, the Clarets were given a tough time by Barcelona 'B' side. Even though they lost 3-nil, the performance by skipper Ismail Matar and striker Sebastian Tagliabue will surely delight Al Wahda fans. What will bother coach Javier Aguirre will be the set-piece goal and poor defending that led to the third one. Back line of Mansor Shawkan, Mohammed Al Dhahri and Salem Al Sharji were caught napping on few occasions. And those chances were enough for the Catalonians.
Elsewhere, the 'Boss' will be again trying out their youth brigade when they face Bundesliga side FC Ingolstadt 04 on Friday evening in Germany.
Coach Zlatko Dalic has said the results are not a worry as he is trying to find the right combination. Al Ain are yet to win a match in their tour with one being rained off. Not to be left behind, Baniyas have started their training session in the Netherlands.
The camp is the first opportunity for new coach Pablo Repetto to check out his boys.
"We have added some players from Under-21 to the first team," club board member Saleh Ismaeil said.
The first phase of the camp will wind up on August 10. Capital teams are upping the ante in their bid to wrest the AGL crown from Dubai club Al Ahli.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com