Sharjah fight to stay alive vs Al Ain at ADIB Cup

Al Ain and Sharjah are ready for a big encounter in the second leg of the ADIB Cup quarter-final, hosted at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday. Despite Al Ain’s superior record, the match remains historically competitive.

Al Ain won the first leg 3–1. The two sides have met six times in the tournament: Al Ain won three, Sharjah won once, and two games ended in draws. The fixture is known for its attacking flair, producing 21 goals—an average of 3.5 per match.

Despite their stronger numbers, Al Ain carry a difficult memory from last season, when they were eliminated despite winning the first leg 1–0 against Al Jazira, eventually losing 2–3 in the return leg and exiting via penalties. A scenario they will aim to avoid repeating.

Their quarter-final paths differ as well. Al Ain have played 13 matches in this stage, winning 5, drawing 3, and losing 5. Sharjah, meanwhile, have played 10 quarter-final matches, winning only twice, drawing twice, and losing six.

The match also highlights the influence of Brazilian star Igor Coronado, one of the competition’s standout scorers with 6 goals, half of them scored specifically against Al Ain, making him a key figure who could shape the outcome once again.

In overall scoring across tournament meetings, Al Ain lead with 13 goals, while Sharjah have 8.

Al Nasr seek comeback against Shabab Al Ahli: All eyes turn to the much-awaited second leg quarter-final clash between Al Nasr and Shabab Al Ahli at the Al Maktoum Stadium. The match renews a rivalry that spans 14 previous meetings in the competition.

The first leg ended in a 2–1 victory for Shabab Al Ahli. Shabab Al Ahli enter the match with a slight historical advantage, having won 6 times compared to Al Nasr’s 5 victories, while 3 matches finished in draws.

The fixture has traditionally been a goal-rich encounter, producing 43 goals—an average of 3 per match.

Despite their historical edge, Shabab Al Ahli have shown inconsistent results away from home in the competition, winning only once in their last 7 away matches, alongside 4 draws and 2 defeats.

Al Nasr, by contrast, appear more stable at home, having lost only once in their last 11 home matches in the ADIB Cup, earning 5 wins and 5 draws.

The match also carries historical significance: none of Shabab Al Ahli’s last nine away matches in the tournament have ended goalless.

Their last 0–0 away draw dates back to April 2021—against Al Nasr—suggesting another open, attacking encounter is likely.

In quarter-final history, Shabab Al Ahli hold a clearer advantage. They have played 15 matches at this stage, winning 10, drawing 3, and losing only twice.

Al Nasr have played the same number but managed just 5 wins, 5 draws, and 5 defeats.

Shabab Al Ahli also rely on a strong pattern: they have never been eliminated from the knockout phase after winning the first leg, reinforcing their confidence in managing decisive details under pressure.

Goal statistics further highlight the matchup’s balance, with Shabab Al Ahli scoring 23 goals against Al Nasr in the competition’s history, while Al Nasr have scored 20 times.