Al Wasl and Al Nasr derby clash headlines Round 15 of Pro League

Historic rivalries and the battle at the top headline Matchweek 15 of the Pro League, as three heavyweight fixtures promise high intensity, rich history, and decisive moments in the race for leading positions.

The matchweek opens on Thursday with the iconic Bur Dubai Derby, as Al Nasr host Al Wasl at Al Maktoum Stadium with kick-off at 17:25.

Both the sides approach the encounter with clear motivation, as Al Nasr look to rediscover consistency from sixth place with 19 points, while Al Wasl aim to strengthen their push near the top of the table, currently sitting fourth with 25 points.

The derby has long been one of the league’s most balanced rivalries, with 33 previous league meetings producing 13 wins for each side and seven draws.

Al Nasr have scored 51 goals in those encounters, compared to 46 for Al Wasl, while Fabio Lima leads the derby’s all-time scorers with eight goals.

The introductory press conference for the Al Wasl vs. Al Nasr match (Bur Dubai Derby) was held at Al Wasl Club, as part of the fifteenth round of the ADNOC Pro League.

During the conference, the head coach of the first football team, Mesut Meral, confirmed that the derby match represents an important stage for the team, saying:

“The derby is a great thing and a good opportunity for us to bounce back strongly. We have done it before, and we hope to be able to do it again in front of our fans away from our stadium.”

He added: “Well, as I said, we need to go back to being humble and find stability, because we have a lot of potential in this group, and we hope to be able to achieve the victory.”

For his part, Al Wasl player Lima stressed the importance of the match, saying:

“The match against Al Nasr is very important for us because it is a big game. We are trying to come back again in the league, and we know how important this match is.”

He continued: “Matches against Al Nasr are always difficult, as it is a strong team, and it has many high-quality players and a good coach.”

He concluded his statements by emphasizing the team’s desire to win and secure the match points, saying:

“We will try to give our best to collect the three points and continue in the league, as the recent results were bad for our ambitions in the competition. However, we will try to get the three points and look forward.”

Later on Thursday, attention shifts to Sharjah, where the hosts welcome league leaders Shabab Al Ahli at 20:00.

Sharjah, seventh on 17 points, see the fixture as a major opportunity to climb the standings, while Shabab Al Ahli are eager to further cement their position at the summit, having collected 35 points so far.

Historically, Shabab Al Ahli hold the advantage in league meetings between the two sides, winning 16 of their 31 encounters, compared to six victories for Sharjah, with nine matches ending level.

However, recent February meetings have favoured Sharjah, who have won the last three league clashes in that month without conceding a goal.

The third major clash arrives on Friday night, as Al Jazira host Al Ain at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium at 20:00.

Al Jazira enter the match in fifth place with 22 points, while Al Ain sit second on 34 points, ensuring a showdown that defies predictions despite the gap in the standings.

Both sides will be driven by the desire to claim three crucial points in a fixture traditionally known for its competitiveness.

In the pro league history, the teams have met 33 times, with Al Jazira holding a narrow edge of 13 wins to Al Ain’s 12, alongside eight draws.

Meanwhile, the UAE Pro League has officially announced the winners of the Best Monthly Awards for January 2026 in the ADNOC Pro League, recognising outstanding performances across the categories of Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Coach during the month.

The Best Player Award was won by Laba Kodjo of Al Ain, who impressed throughout January to edge out strong competition from his teammate Matias Palacios, Nicolas Gimenez of Al Wasl, Yuri Cesar from Shabab Al Ahli, and Dusan Tadic of Al Wahda.

Historic rivalries and the battle at the top headline Matchweek 15 of the Pro League, as three heavyweight fixtures promise high intensity, rich history, and decisive moments in the race for leading positions.

The matchweek opens on Thursday with the iconic Bur Dubai Derby, as Al Nasr host Al Wasl at Al Maktoum Stadium with kick-off at 17:25.

Both the sides approach the encounter with clear motivation, as Al Nasr look to rediscover consistency from sixth place with 19 points, while Al Wasl aim to strengthen their push near the top of the table, currently sitting fourth with 25 points.

The derby has long been one of the league’s most balanced rivalries, with 33 previous league meetings producing 13 wins for each side and seven draws.

Al Nasr have scored 51 goals in those encounters, compared to 46 for Al Wasl, while Fabio Lima leads the derby’s all-time scorers with eight goals.

The introductory press conference for the Al Wasl vs. Al Nasr match (Bur Dubai Derby) was held at Al Wasl Club, as part of the fifteenth round of the ADNOC Pro League.

During the conference, the head coach of the first football team, Mesut Meral, confirmed that the derby match represents an important stage for the team, saying:

“The derby is a great thing and a good opportunity for us to bounce back strongly. We have done it before, and we hope to be able to do it again in front of our fans away from our stadium.”

He added: “Well, as I said, we need to go back to being humble and find stability, because we have a lot of potential in this group, and we hope to be able to achieve the victory.”

For his part, Al Wasl player Lima stressed the importance of the match, saying:

“The match against Al Nasr is very important for us because it is a big game. We are trying to come back again in the league, and we know how important this match is.”

He continued: “Matches against Al Nasr are always difficult, as it is a strong team, and it has many high-quality players and a good coach.”

He concluded his statements by emphasizing the team’s desire to win and secure the match points, saying:

“We will try to give our best to collect the three points and continue in the league, as the recent results were bad for our ambitions in the competition. However, we will try to get the three points and look forward.”

Later on Thursday, attention shifts to Sharjah, where the hosts welcome league leaders Shabab Al Ahli at 20:00.

Sharjah, seventh on 17 points, see the fixture as a major opportunity to climb the standings, while Shabab Al Ahli are eager to further cement their position at the summit, having collected 35 points so far.

Historically, Shabab Al Ahli hold the advantage in league meetings between the two sides, winning 16 of their 31 encounters, compared to six victories for Sharjah, with nine matches ending level.

However, recent February meetings have favoured Sharjah, who have won the last three league clashes in that month without conceding a goal.

The third major clash arrives on Friday night, as Al Jazira host Al Ain at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium at 20:00.

Al Jazira enter the match in fifth place with 22 points, while Al Ain sit second on 34 points, ensuring a showdown that defies predictions despite the gap in the standings.

Both sides will be driven by the desire to claim three crucial points in a fixture traditionally known for its competitiveness.

In the pro league history, the teams have met 33 times, with Al Jazira holding a narrow edge of 13 wins to Al Ain’s 12, alongside eight draws.

Meanwhile, the UAE Pro League has officially announced the winners of the Best Monthly Awards for January 2026 in the ADNOC Pro League, recognising outstanding performances across the categories of Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Coach during the month.

The Best Player Award was won by Laba Kodjo of Al Ain, who impressed throughout January to edge out strong competition from his teammate Matias Palacios, Nicolas Gimenez of Al Wasl, Yuri Cesar from Shabab Al Ahli, and Dusan Tadic of Al Wahda.