Fired-up Al Jazira need no encouragement for the Arabian Gulf League’s opening Abu Dhabi Clasico against Al Ain, according to coach Eric Gerets. The season’s first meeting between the old rivals will be played out in front of a fervent Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium tonight.
Hosts Jazira have been the top flight’s great entertainers thus far, their 3-3 draw at Al Dhafra on Monday containing sublime finishes from six-goal topscorer Mirko Vucinic and amateurish defending.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi currently sit third.
Their nerve-jangling run under their new Belgian boss sees them as the division’s topscorers, while only the bottom three have conceded more times. Gerets expressed his excitement about the meeting with the defeated AFC Champions League semi-finalists, insisting his players are eager to claim the local bragging rights.
“There is nothing I need to say,” the 60 year old said.
“We all waited for the big games. It will be a big game against a team who went out of the semi- final of the AFC Champions League in midweek.
“We will know after this game what is our position at the moment. I am looking forward to it.”
Al Ain’s exit from Asia’s elite club competition came at a further cost when star striker Asamoah Gyan was dismissed, his suspension to be served domestically. The Ghana international has proven a thorn in Jazira’s side, scoring five times in his previous three meetings.
Despite this fearsome record, Gerets was not convinced his absence would be decisive.
He said: “I don’t know if it will help us. Of course, it is a good thing for us as he is a fantastic player.
“They have another couple of fantastic players to replace him, so I can only tell you after the game whether it was good or bad.”
Jazira claimed a 2-1 victory at a packed Mohammed bin Zayed in this fixture last term.
The joy was not to last, however, with a much-improved Al Ain under coach Zlatko Dalic claiming a pair of 2-1 victories when the clubs last met in May’s Champions League round-of-16 double-header.
“If you look at the history, you should have a bad feeling,” Gerets said.
“History does not count for me. If I talked about my career as a player and my career as a coach it is stupid as it would mean I still live in the past. We have new chances to show to our fans that we are better than last year.
“We have a minimum two chances to show Al Ain we are better than last season.”
Jazira’s continuing frailty was clear for all to see at Dhafra. Youssef Kaddioui’s second was particularly poor, centre-backs Yaser Matar and Musallem Fayez parting to let the Morocco forward clean through.
“What I think, hope and know is that we will not make the same kind of mistakes again,” Gerets vowed.
“After all the time we have worked together, my team are in better shape.
“We only need a good game without mistakes. Then we can look everyone right in the eyes for the rest of the Championship.”
Stadium – Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium
Kick-off – 20:00
Form guide
Al Jazira – WDWLW
Al Ain – WLWWW
Players to watch
Mirko Vucinic
The Montenegro international has delivered the outstanding performances expected since his big-money summer move. Vucinic has been tasked with cutting in from out wide. The goals have since flowed, his link-up play with Ali Mabkhout and Manuel Lanzini a joy to behold.
Omar Abdulrahman
There is an undeniable sense the UAE playmaker is yet to get running this term. Flashes of brilliance were on show in midweek against Al Hilal, one outsideof- the-foot pass to Asamoah Gyan a gem. Jazira’s porous defence should provide plenty of opportunity to find his form.
Team news
Al Jazira: Coach Eric Gerets has all his big hitters available to him for the Abu Dhabi Clasico. Jazira have leaked too many goals in defence, but the Belgian has vowed to stick with the same personnel for tonight’s meeting with the Boss.
Team news: Al Ain have been forced into a reshuffle, following the suspension of star striker Asamoah Gyan. Jires Kembo-Ekoko should move up front, with Omar Abdulrahman pushing up. Goalkeeper Khalid Essa returns after his ACL ban.
Likely line-ups
Al Jazira: Khaseif; Sabeal, Fayez, Matar, Mousa; Lanzini, Esmail, Jucilei; Pitroipa, Mabkhout, Vucinic.
Al Ain: Essa; F. Fayez, I. Ahmed, M. Ahmed, M. Fayez; Lee, Barman; O. Abdulrahman, M. Abdulrahman, Stoch; Kembo-Ekoko.
