City pride is on the line when rejuvenated Al Wasl welcome Al Nasr in the 105th Bur Dubai derby.
This clash at Zabeel Stadium has been given an extra dimension by the host’s permanent hiring of Salem Rabie as replacement for Romanian tactician Laurentiu Reghecampf. He has a long association with Thursday’s opponent, as player and technical staff, stretching back to the 1970s.
Both clubs last weekend claimed their first wins of 2020/21 in the Arabian Gulf League. Brazilian playmaker Ronaldo Mendes inspired Wasl’s 4-2 dismantling of Hatta and Nasr travelled back from Khor Fakkan with all three points, courtesy of substitute Habib Fardan’s solitary intervention.
“Winning in the derby is more important than the rest of the games,” said Blue Wave boss Krunoslav Jurcic. “We studied Al Wasl well and our constant ambition is to win, regardless of the competitor’s identity.”
This all-Dubai extravaganza headlines an intriguing match-week 3. The last two crowned champions, Al Ain and Sharjah, battle on Friday night, while Al Wahda’s credentials will be stress tested against cancelled 2019/20 pacesetters Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.
Free-scoring Bani Yas will aim to make it three wins from three games against Khor Fakkan. Ajman and Hatta will be determined to get off the mark at Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Stadium.
Boss Marcel Keizer is not expecting to have 2016 AFC Player of the Year Omar Abdulrahman available when winless Al Jazira take on Ittihad Kalba, despite a promising prognosis following last week’s worrying knee problem.
He said: “We suffer from many injuries, but we are playing to win against Ittihad Kalba. We need more time to determine the duration of Amoory’s absence.”
Flailing Fujairah, meanwhile, are determined to end an 11-match top-flight run since their last victory when they undertake the 750-kilometre round trip to dark horses Al Dhafra.
MATCH-WEEK 3 FIXTURES
Thursday
18:15 Al Dhafra v Fujairah
18:15 Al Jazira v Ittihad Kalba
21:00 Al Wasl v Al Nasr
Friday
18:15 Ajman v Hatta
18:15 Al Wahda v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club
21:00 Al Ain v Sharjah
21:00 Bani Yas v Khor Fakkan
