As Al Ain settled the summit clash and approached the ADNOC Pro League title, the battle to avoid relegation entered a new phase of excitement and anticipation. With the struggle to secure survival intensifying, six teams are caught in a vortex of danger, engaged in a game of points and calculations. While Al-Sharjah has distanced itself from the relegation zone with 25 points, and Al-Horfan and Ajman (24 points each) and Al-Qadsiah (23 points) are in relatively stable positions, the zone of uncertainty includes Al-Bataeh (19 points), Bani Yas (22 points), and the two promoted teams: Al-Dhafra (18 points) and Dibba Al-Hisn (17 points) with four rounds remaining. On paper, Ajman seems safe, despite the 'Orange' team's poor form, which lost at home to Al-Wasl 1-2 in the 22nd round. The 'Orange' team continued their losing streak, not tasting victory in the last five rounds, earning only one point out of a possible 15 under coach Goran. Coach Goran's record with Ajman in the league has not been happy, as the team suffered its 12th defeat this season. The loss to Al-Wasl was the 44th during Goran's tenure at Ajman, where he has achieved 39 wins, 17 draws, and the number of goals conceded by his team after that trio reached 155. Four teams are mathematically in a relegation battle. For now, Dibba Al-Hisn appears to be the least fortunate in the fight to stay up, with their points frozen at 17 after a loss at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, where the team scored three goals but left with nothing. None of the four teams at risk managed to win, though some draws were notable, like Al-Qadsiah's 2-2 draw with Al-Wahda at Al-Nayan Stadium. Considering the opponent's strength and the match's scenario (when Qadsiah was down 0-2 but came back to score two in the second half), it was one of the most impressive results. Venezuelan wing-back Rivas scored a brace, increasing his tally to 5 league goals this season. The 'Falcons of Horf' managed to avoid the trap of defeat, which improved their position in the table, despite the tough task awaiting them in the 23rd round against Shabab Al-Ahli at Rashid Stadium in Dubai. Al-Bataeh could not achieve a much-needed victory to boost their survival chances, but one point was enough to pull the team out of the tunnel and occupy 12th place, the first position in the safety zone. Credit must be given to Al-Bataeh for the spirit they show in matches, which helped the team earn 6 points in the last 4 rounds (one win and three consecutive draws). Al-Bataeh once again demonstrated their dominance in the emirate's derbies, continuing a 9-match unbeaten streak against their 'relatives' with 4 wins and 5 draws. As for Bani Yas, who finally climbed to 11th in the table, they secured a valuable 1-1 draw with Al-Sharjah in a crucial match. Bani Yas knows they are not yet in the safe zone, and the calculations for survival are still complex, but what distinguishes their journey is two decisive matches in rounds 23 and 24 against rivals. They will first face Al-Qadsiah away, then host Al-Dhafra. This could help the team enhance their survival chances if they manage to collect 4 points from these two encounters. Al-Dhafra, who parted ways with their former Serbian coach Petrovic and brought in Croatian Horvat, failed to change the scene as the team's poor results continued to rise. The 'Rider of Dhafra' has not won in 11 consecutive matches. Al-Dhafra stopped winning since January 2nd of this year when they defeated Al-Horfan 3-2 in the 11th round, and at the time it seemed the team would break the 'promoted team relegated' saying and compete for a spot in the top half of the table. In the first half of the season, Al-Dhafra was the dark horse, finishing 7th with 16 points at the end of the first round, but then entered a poor run, earning only 2 points from two draws in 9 rounds of the second half. For the first time this season, Al-Dhafra found itself in a tunnel, becoming second from the bottom of the table, though they were 4th after the 3rd round and 6th after the 8th. A gradual decline began until the team entered the dark tunnel and became second from the bottom, behind Dibba Al-Hisn. Al-Qadsiah has not tasted victory in the last 5 rounds, but the yellow and black team achieved their third consecutive draw and fourth in the last 5 rounds with only one loss. Al-Qadsiah is in 10th place, 5 points behind Al-Dhafra, who are in the last relegation spot. Al-Horfan, who drew 1-1 with Al-Bataeh at home at Sakr bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi Stadium, looked better than the other threatened teams. The green team reached the 24-point mark, 6 points away from the relegation zone.
