Sharjah and Al-Nasr are looking to improve their positions in the league table when they face off at 21:30 at the Sharjah Stadium. The encounter comes under difficult circumstances for both teams, with Sharjah sitting in 8th place with 20 points, while Al-Nasr is in 6th with 23 points. 'The King' is still under pressure from its fans due to a decline in form this season, whereas in previous years it was a constant contender for the title. The draws in the last two matches against Al-Wasl (1-1) and then Al-Wahda with the same score caused 'Dubai's Knights' to drop to second place with 43 points, just one point behind 'The Leader'. This turned the red team's situation from holding the title in their hands to waiting for Al-Ain to stumble. Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa stated that the team is required to make significant physical and technical efforts to show the best possible version of their level and identity on the field, with a need to adopt an attacking approach and create chances from various angles. He added in a press conference: 'The players need intensity, fitness, and speed, with decisiveness and effectiveness in front of goal, to secure the match points. On the other hand, Kalba, sitting in 9th place with 20 points, is searching for its first-ever historical victory over Al-Ahli, despite the difficulty of the task and the gap in resources. Since its victory over Bani Yas on January 2nd, the team has not won any match, playing seven matches afterward, losing two and drawing five, which put it in a difficult position as a loss today could cause it to drop further in the table. In the match between Khorfakkan and Dibba, scheduled for 21:30 at the Saqr Bin Mohammad Al-Qasimi Stadium, both teams will face a tough challenge. The importance of the match lies in it being a direct encounter between two teams fighting to stay away from the relegation zone as the season approaches its final stages. Khorfakkan has 19 points in 10th place and delivered a standout performance in the last round against league leaders Al-Ain, despite a narrow 2-3 defeat, a performance that could give it a morale boost before facing a team that is also fighting for survival. Dibba, occupying the second-to-last position with 13 points, realizes that its margin for error is narrowing. The team suffers from a clear imbalance between attack and defense, which was evident in its recent 1-4 loss to Sharjah, a situation that makes the match against Khorfakkan almost a last chance to keep its survival hopes alive. Al-Ahli is hoping for its second win since the beginning of 2026. Our goal is to reach the top of the table.'
