It will take a long time for the dust to settle on last week's unexpected results. Yet, the teams face their next opponents in the 11th week of the UAE Football League.
Tonight's highlight will be the clash between second-placed Al Wahda and Al Shaab at 7.35pm in Abu Dhabi. Smarting from their 3-1 defeat to Al Nasr last week, Al Wahda will be out to ensure they do not lose sight of leaders Al Jazira.
Meanwhile, bottom-placed Al Khaleej made merry with maximum points and a better position in the standings with a similar 3-1 victory against leaders Al Jazira.
Other matches today (points in parenthesis):
Al Ahli (16) v Al Khaleej (7). Kick-off at 5pm.
While Al Khaleej will be out to clinch their third win in a row, Al Ahli will be wary of their opponents. Their Romanian coach Ilie Balaci has been sacked following a spat with his temperamental striker Faisal Khalil. However, Balaci's presence will still be felt as the club's technical advisor.
Caretaker coach Fawzi Tae'esha is keen to make amends for the lop-sided results from Al Ahli of late. "Last week's results have done a lot of good for the teams lying in the middle of the table," Tae'esha told Gulf News.
Al Shabab (15) v Al Dhafra (9): Kick-off at 5.05pm.
After a promising start to their season in the big league, Al Dhafra seem to have faltered. Last week, they held on to a 1-1 draw against Ittihad Kalba.
Today, they will have to do even better if they want full points against middle-placed Al Shabab.
Dubai (5) v Al Ain (19): Kick-off at 5.05pm.
Reigning champions Al Ain know exactly what they must do from here onwards, if they are to retain the crown. At their mercy today is bottom-placed Dubai Club.
From their third place, Al Ain will be looking to gain full points to keep up the pressure on the top two teams.
Al Jazira (23) v Sharjah (15): Kick-off at 5.10pm.
League leaders Al Jazira will be wondering what went wrong last week! But there is hardly any time for such reflection as they will be out to make amends on home ground today.
Al Ittihad (9) v Al Wasl (12): Kick-off at 7.25pm.
Al Wasl were among the teams that lost narrowly last week. Coach Vinko Begovic will be relying on local talents, in the absence of strikers Farhad Majidi and Ali Redha Wahidi, to earn maximum points.
Emirates Club (9) v Al Nasr (16): Kick-off at 7.25pm.
With their big win against Al Wahda, Al Nasr will be looking to keep their winning touch and improve their place in the standings.
Balaci puts ball in Al Ahli court
Al Ahli Club's coach Ilie Balaci is yet to accept or decline the offer of taking over as the 'technical advisor' at the club.
"As a professional, I am a coach. How can I be asked to do something else?" he questioned. The Romanian further mentioned he had met the football committee at Al Ahli late on Sunday and discussed the issue with them. "I have made known to them what exactly I feel about the whole issue," Balaci stated. "Yes, the ball is in their court and they have to decide on the matter," he added.
He also said he had no intentions of appealing to Fifa to intervene. "Al Ahli has been good to me and I want to leave on a friendly note," he said.
Gulf News
