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Fierce Rivals Al Wasl and Al Ahli Prepare for an Epic AFC Champions League Showdown
The stage is set for an absolute barnburner in the AFC Champions League Elite as Dubai’s Al Wasl get set to host Saudi Arabian giants Al Ahli on September 30th at the iconic Zabeel Stadium. These two clubs need no introduction to fans across Asia – their bitter rivalry spans decades and has produced some of the most memorable matches and controversies in the competition’s history.
For the Cheetahs of Al Wasl, this match represents a prime opportunity to make a statement after stumbling out of the gates with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Uzbek champions Pakhtakor in their opener. Star striker Fabio De Lima will be eager to open his account after a frustrating goalless outing, while the home fans will be looking to the savvy veteran Nasser Azzam to pull the strings in midfield. Don’t be surprised if the famously volatile Diego Maradona makes an appearance on the Al Wasl bench as well – that mercurial genius seems to find his way into the thick of every high-profile clash these days.
As for Al Ahli, the “Miami Merengues” will be brimming with confidence after dismantling Jordanian side Al Wehdat 4-1 in their first group match. The Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović bagged a brace in that one, living up to his larger-than-life persona with his trademark flair and arrogance. Of course, the real story around this Al Ahli squad has been the highly anticipated debut of the Crown Prince of Bahrain, who splashed his family’s oil riches to purchase one of the most expensive squads ever assembled in the AFC at over $300 million. Let’s just hope the bottomless wellspring of cash backing this team can buy them some fortitude when faced with the deafening roars of 20,000 rabid Zabeel Ultras.
If I had to make a prediction, I’m taking Al Wasl in a narrow but compelling 2-1 victory. De Lima scores from the penalty spot, Ibra inevitably finds the net with an outrageous bicycle kick or something equally absurd, but in the end the influential Nasser Azzam proves too much to handle for the Saudi side. A word to the wise though – matches between these two rarely go smoothly, so expect some extra fireworks and more than a few red cards before it’s all said and done. ¡Que arda el Estadio Zabeel!
