(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Al Jazira will be looking to ramp up the pressure on Arabian Gulf League (AGL) title rivals Al Ain again when they travel to Emirates this (Thursday) afternoon (Kick-off: 5:20pm). The Pride of Abu Dhabi's 16th round game is up first among the seven fixtures spread across the next three days and they thus have ample opportunity to go three points clear of Zlatko Dalic's side once again.
Eric Gerets' side have been averaging close to three goals per game (2.86) thus far this term and it would appear unlikely that Emirates will be able to nullify their formidable firepower. Indeed, the 10th-placed Falcons - like Sharjah - have the fifth worst defensive record in the top flight (with 26 concessions) and they've lost the most matches (eight) of any club outside the bottom three outfits. Emirates nonetheless scored two injury-time goals to snatch a 2-2 draw at Al Wahda on Sunday and those late salvos will have boosted morale in the hosts' camp.
That dire result for the Clarets in the national capital spelt the end of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro's tenure at Wahda, who now begin life without him at home to Bani Yas (Kick-off: 8:15pm). The reasoning behind - and timing of - Peseiro's sacking would appear highly questionable given the fact they've only lost two of their 15 AGL outings to date - only Al Ain have lost fewer (one in 14 matches overall).
However, a third of Wahda's results have been draws and with the club hierarchy seemingly losing faith in Peseiro's managerial methods over the last two AGL rounds, a decision was made to dispense with his services. It will be very interesting to see just how Wahda's players react to that judgement call from here on in. Al Ain shall have the chance to respond to Jazira's prior result when they host relegation-threatened Ajman in the only encounter on Friday afternoon (Kick-off: 5:30pm).
It's unlikely the Orange Brigade will be much of a match for The Boss seeing as they've lost nearly fives times as many clashes as they've won (nine to two). Al Ain's record is altogether different after all; they've won 10, drawn thrice, lost only once and dropped just nine points from a possible 42 in the process.
Al Ahli's home tussle with Al Wasl (Kick-off: 8:15pm) pits two mid-table teams coming off the back of 1-0 reverses directly against each other, with a slight preference for the former on account of their better league record and the setting at Rashid Stadium.
Saturday's showdowns won't be for the faint-hearted on Valentine's Day with four of the bottom six in action. Fujairah have curiously won more matches than their higher-ranked hosts Al Dhafra (four to three), but the draw specialists have lost two fewer courtesy of seven stalemates to Fujairah's three.
Ittihad Kalba versus Sharjah won't be one for the purists either, with the two teams having registered only four victories and 22 defeats between them up until now.
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