Today, the ninth round of the ADNOC Pro League kicks off with three matches where teams' ambitions vary: some aim to solidify their top position, while others seek to climb out of the relegation zone at the bottom of the table. These matches are part of a partial schedule due to the postponement of the Al Wahda vs. Al Shabab and Al Ahli vs. Al Wasl fixtures, as the four teams are involved in continental competitions.
The spotlight is on the match between Al Ain, who lead the table with 20 points, two ahead of Al Wahda and three ahead of Al Ahli. Al Ain will host Al Khorfakkan at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium at 19:30. In this encounter, 'The Leader' hopes to capitalize on home advantage and technical stability to extend their lead at the top.
Al Ain enters the match on a strong run, having not lost in their last 15 league games, while keeping a clean sheet in many of those encounters. They also hold a historical edge over Al Khorfakkan, having won 13 of their 20 previous meetings, drawn five, and lost only three.
The match features a prominent individual storyline with the presence of striker Laba Kodjo, the all-time top scorer in head-to-head encounters between the two teams in the league. He has scored nine goals in ten matches and provided four assists. Notably, his first goal for Al Ain after his move from Moroccan side Nahdha Berkane in September 2019 came against Al Khorfakkan.
Conversely, Al Khorfakkan, sitting in eighth place with 11 points, acknowledges the difficulty of the task but hopes to build on their improved attacking form in recent direct clashes. The last five meetings between the teams have seen nine goals scored, indicating their ability to trouble their opponent despite the disparity in resources.
In another match, Bani Yas will host Khorfakkan at Al-Shamikh Stadium at 16:50. This encounter has a special competitive feel, considering the teams' similar ambitions despite the gap in the league table.
'The Sky Blues', who are second from bottom with four points, enter the match in high spirits after a big win in the last round but face the challenge of their poor home record, having failed to win any of their last eight matches at home.
Khorfakkan, in tenth place with eight points, will look to exploit their hosts' inconsistent form to strengthen their position in the safe zone of the table. These fixtures have historically been known for their competitiveness and high-scoring nature, as reflected by the statistics between the teams.
In the third match, to be played simultaneously, Al Jazira will host Dibba at Rashid bin Saed Stadium. The hosts, ninth with nine points, are looking to restore their attacking balance and secure a win to boost their mid-table position, relying on a clear historical advantage over Dibba and a winning streak in recent head-to-heads.
Dibba, meanwhile, sits at the bottom of the table with just three points and will be aiming to end their poor run of results, fully aware of the size of the challenge against a team accustomed to successfully dealing with sides fighting relegation.
