Al Ahli Youth have a golden opportunity to secure the winter title when they host Dibba today at 19:45 in the 13th round of the ADNOC Pro League. The Dubai-based team will benefit from the valuable gift they received from Al-Wahda, who forced league leaders Al Ain to a 2-2 draw in the opening round. 'The Knights of Dubai' enter the match against 'The Collectors' with the desire to top the standings for the first time this season and clinch the honorary winter title.
The hosts enter the match with 29 points in second place and are strong candidates for a win, thanks to their strong position in the table, their consecutive winning streak, which has given the team a major boost, as well as their potent attack, which has scored 20 goals as the third-best offense, and their solid defense, which has conceded only three goals, the best in the competition.
Al Ahli Youth have proven to be one of the main contenders for the title by overcoming the pressure of postponed matches in a short period. They are also the only team to have achieved a perfect record in the ADNOC Pro League after the Arab Cup, winning four matches with a combined score of 13-2.
Despite Iranian international Sardar Azmoun beginning his return from injury, the team has not been affected by his absence. Head coach Paulo Sousa relies on a wealth of tactical options, with the team having ready-made substitutes in every position and several players capable of filling multiple roles, giving the technical staff flexibility in changing their style of play without making substitutions.
In addition to the team's readiness, history is also on Al Ahli Youth's side. The two teams have met 12 times previously, with 'The Knights of Dubai' winning 10 times compared to Dibba's single victory, while one match ended in a draw. Al Ahli Youth scored 24 goals to Dibba's seven.
On the other hand, Dibba enters the match led by their Iraqi star Mahdi Ali 'Mimi'. With nine points to their name, they know that defeating a team of Al Ahli Youth's caliber would have a significant impact on the table and their morale. The match comes as the team is experiencing a clear resurgence, having earned six points in their last two matches, which is double what they collected in the first ten games of the season.
It is worth noting that if Al Ahli Youth secure the winter title—usually a preliminary indicator of the champion—they will break their historical partnership with Al Ain in the number of such titles (five each).
In another match, at Rashid bin Saed Stadium at 17:05, a clash between teams in the lower half of the table will see Ajman (9th place, 13 points) host Al-Zafra (8th place, 15 points). Both teams are looking to secure the three points to stay away from the danger zone.
Historically, the two teams have met 20 times in the Pro League, with Ajman winning seven matches to Al-Zafra's six, and seven matches ending in a draw. Al-Zafra scored 31 goals to Ajman's 27.
Ajman has lost their last three league matches, while Al-Zafra has not drawn any of their 12 matches this season (five wins and seven losses).
