The battle to claim top spot and restart the Arabian Gulf League with a bang has made the Abu Dhabi derby against Al Wahda “extra important”, according to Al Jazira coach Eric Gerets.
Plenty is on the line tonight when the high-flying capital giants meet at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Wahda have been the surprise package of 2014, a rejuvenated side being taken to new heights under boss Jose Peseiro. Their opponents Jazira have both conceded and scored with abandon under new boss Gerets, 13-goal leading marksman Mirko Vucinic inspiring their rise up the standings.
A vital period of the season is under way, this weekend seeing the start of five rounds of AGL fixtures before another adjournment for January’s Asian Cup.
Gerets said: “We have games every four or five days until the end of December.
“Now, it is extra important as we are playing to be in front, for the first position; if we win, we are for some time No1 in the league.
“It is a derby, their stadium is not even one kilometre from our stadium. We are looking forward to this game.”
Jazira hope to name a full-strength squad for the clash, with UAE trio Ali Khaseif, Khamis Esmail and Gulf Cup Golden Boot winner Ali Mabkhout all returning to training on Friday.
Undefeated Wahda surged to first place in the table during the opening eight rounds, claiming five wins and three draws. Their achievements under Peseiro have been made all the more remarkable by the fact they are in front of a number of better-resourced challengers.
“We realise Jazira are a good team, who have the strongest offensive line in the league,” Portuguese boss Peseiro said. “Jazira are one of several teams competing for the title.”
