Al Ain coach, Vladimir Ivic, hopes his players will maintain the highest level of focus for the full 100 minutes of the match, including added time, when they face Al Jazira in the 'Abu Dhabi Classic'. The 34th edition of this derby is scheduled for 8:00 PM today at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, as part of the 15th round of the UAE Pro League. Both teams enter the match motivated, with 'Al Ain' looking to solidify their position at the top of the table and 'Al Jazira' aiming to keep their hopes alive for a spot in international competitions. Al Ain, sitting second with 34 points, feels the pressure to win to maintain their strong chances of competing for the league title, which has eluded them for years. Meanwhile, Al Jazira, in fifth place with 22 points, hopes a victory will keep them in the race for a qualifying spot. The first leg between the teams ended in a 1-1 draw. Before the match, Ivic emphasized the importance of maintaining focus until the final moment and the need to be ready for any scenario. He also mentioned that the team has conducted a series of training sessions to develop a clear strategy for both attacking and defensive play. 'We understand we are facing a strong opponent,' the coach said. 'We have worked on many details, including open play, set pieces, and transitions between defense and attack.' In another match of the round, Al Dhafra will host Al Khaleej at Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium. Both teams are looking to strengthen their mid-table position and avoid getting dragged into a relegation battle. Al Dhafra, in eighth place, suffered a narrow defeat in their last match, while Al Khaleej, sitting tenth, celebrated a crucial away victory in the previous round. The teams have met nine times in the league, with each securing four wins and one match ending in a draw.
