With the title decided and Al Shaab relegated, the focus for the last three rounds of the Arabian Gulf League season will turn to the fight to finish second and third and clinch a spot in the 2015 Asian Champions League (ACL).
At the other end of the table, the drop seems inevitable for Dubai. They need to win their last three games, starting at home against Shaab on Sunday, followed by matches against Al Wahda and Al Nasr.
Al Wasl and Emirates, both on 21 points and seven above Dubai, meet at the Zabeel Stadium. Victory for either would secure a place in the top flight. A defeat for Dubai would see both teams safe from the drop.
Second-placed Al Shabab go into the clash with champions Al Ahli in a Dubai derby at the Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium on a three-game losing streak.
“Those results are behind us. What is important for us now is the next game,” said Marcos Paqueta, the Shabab manager.
“The league may have been decided, but there is a lot to play for with several teams wanting to finish as high as possible for a possible passage into next year’s Asian Champions League.”
Ahli may rest some of their players after a long season, having competed across four different competitions. Their priority – the final leg in completing a domestic treble – is the President's Cup final against Al Ain on May 18.
The top three finishers earn an ACL place – with the third-placed team likely entering the qualifying rounds – and, if Ahli win the President’s Cup, fourth place will also compete in Asia in 2015.
Shabab have a three-point lead over the chasing pack, but any team from Sharjah (third on 39 points) to Al Dhafra (eighth on 35 points) are still in contention for the top three
Al Jazira are another team who will want to put recent results behind them as quickly as possible when they host Baniyas.
They have won only once in seven league games, lost the Arabian Gulf Cup final to Ahli 2-1, and went down to Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the ACL last week.
“The important thing for us as usual is to get on with the next game,” said Walter Zenga, the Jazira coach. “We have played many games in three different competitions and have had to travel thousands of miles.
“As a result, the players were mentally tired. Yet we have played well but haven’t had the desired results. I wish our fortunes will change against Baniyas.”
Wahda travel to Abu Dhabi’s Western Region for a meeting with Dhafra and three points may have them as strong candidates to achieve a top-four finish, with Dubai and Shaab to come in their last two games.
Wahda’s recent form has been impressive, having earned 17 points from a possible 21, and they are level with Sharjah.
Their coach Jose Peseiro said: “It will be a big mistake if my players think they have already won the remaining three games.”
Al Ain manager Zlatko Dalic faces a selection dilemma in naming his line-up against Sharjah.
“Every game is important for us, but we need to rotate some players as we have two important league games coming against Jazira and Wasl,” Dalic said.
“That’s not all because we meet Jazira again over two legs in the ACL round of 16 and play Ahli in the President’s Cup final on May 18. It is going to be another hectic three weeks for us.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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