An African “offensive” challenge at the Sharjah-Al Ain summit

Al Ain team will arrive at 9:15 pm today, a heavy guest to the champions of the Arabian Gulf League, at the top of the third round. The game is a real test of the readiness of the two teams to compete for the title of the league this season, in addition to the historical and club value witnessed, especially since last season, which saw a strong and historic return to seal the title of the league title, had beaten Al Ain 2-1, and a draw 2-2 , Which makes the «leader» motivated to return the debt to the «king» this season.

Perhaps the highlight of the dialogue between the two stars of the two teams, the Togolese Lapa Kodjo, who scored two goals so far with Al Ain against Kalba and Al Wasl, while also Cape Verde player, Ricardo Gomez to Sharjah in Khorfakkan and Kalba.

The challenge will be African, especially since both players are characterized by their physical and technical abilities, along with their height and speed, and both goals, and made a goal so far, and played the full minutes of the first two rounds.

It is expected that there will be a major African offensive challenge between Gomez and Laba Kudjou, as each of them seeks to be the decisive card for his team in this match, and the brilliance of Sharjah player Igor is a remarkable new strength in the ranks of the king.

The match will be the toughest test for Sharjah coach Abdulaziz Al Anbari after playing in the last two rounds against Khorfakkan and Ittihad Kalba. The meeting is also a revenge for Al Ain, who hope to be rehabilitated for losing at home to their fans in Sharjah in the first round last season. Forth.

Sharjah, who are looking to continue their victories and maintain their unbeaten record, are counting heavily on the ground and public, as well as the strength of their attacking line with Ricardo Gomez alongside Igor Kornado and Ryan Mendez, while the most important card for Al Ain will face the defending champions. She is Lapa Kodjo, after missing his Brazilian star Cayo, and Algerian Abdelrahman Meziane.

Al Ain remain a team with a strong personality, especially in major confrontations, and the morale of the players is high following the big win over Al Wasl in the last round at home. The circumstances of the two teams are similar in almost everything, especially on the six points after two rounds. Official statistics from the Professional Association reveal that both teams have successful pass rates of 84.1% for Sharjah and 85.9% for Al Ain. Al Ain are third and Sharjah second on goal difference from Al Ahli's first youth and the three clubs are six points.

Sharjah scored five goals and conceded one goal, while Al Ain scored six goals and conceded three goals. Along with the absence of Caillou, Meziane, Mohamed Abdelrahman and Ryan Yaslam, Al Ain are also without defender Al-Hassan Saleh for suspension and Saif Rashid for injury.

In contrast, the game is of great importance to the eye looking for the lead, so the coach will seek to find appropriate solutions to make up for the absence of Caillou, including relying on the paper of Serbian player Andrea, who was recently signed by Al Ain in the category of the resident player to make a difference in the team next to the paper Lapa Kodjo.

Winning this match is a passage for Al Ain to compete strongly for the title, especially after the positive developments witnessed by the team.

To view the squad, please click on this link.

Absences

Sharjah: Hassan Saleh and Saif Rashid.

Al Ain: Kayo, Ryan Yaslam, Meziane and Mohammed Abdulrahman.

Statistics on both teams

- The two teams achieved the full mark in the league after two rounds.

- The percentage of correct passes to Sharjah 84.1%, compared to 85.9% to the eye.

- Sharjah scored 5 goals and Al Ain 6.

* Ricardo Gomez and Laba Kudjoo have two goals and one goal for each player so far.

- The public attendance in the first two matches of Al Ain reached 13,434 fans, compared to 6,000 and 367 fans in Sharjah.

Best player in the first two rounds

Sharjah: Igor and Gomez.

Al Ain: Chiotani and Laba Kudju.

The last two games in the league

Sharjah won the first leg 2-1.

Tied in the return match 2-2.

Igor: Al Ain is a fierce team .. We know what to do

Al Ain is a "fierce team", but they "know what they have to do to win their third consecutive win," said Sharjah-based Igor Cornado.

Igor stressed that Sharjah players will fight for the ninth point today. He stressed at the press conference that the game is a difficult test for both teams, and said: «We enjoy the challenges and big games, and are ready to provide the great performance that our audience awaits».

“We know our responsibility both on and off the pitch and enjoy our training with great enthusiasm.” "For me, a year after I was in the UAE league, I started to know the stadiums, the players and the judges of the stadiums well, and we are trying to delight our fans, especially in a big game like Al Ain."

Ismail: Whoever defies himself is not worried about the Sharjah attack

Al Ain defender Ismail Ahmed said his confidence in his abilities and self-defiance is his focus, pointing out that "those who challenge themselves are not worried about the Sharjah attack." "I challenge myself first before every game, and I try to make the attackers calculate my confrontation," he said at the press conference, when asked by Emirates Today about his readiness to face the Sharjah attack.

"I watch the competitors and study their movements well and this gives me a good chance to stop them," said the 36-year-old. Although he scored 26 goals in various competitions with Al Ain mostly with header strikes, he did not succeed in reaching Sharjah.