The ADNOC Pro League heads into Matchweek 3 with excitement already building after two action-packed rounds. Two major encounters take centre stage, with Al Wasl hosting Shabab Al Ahli in the Dubai Derby and Al Ain welcoming Al Nasr in another highly anticipated clash.
With several teams making perfect starts to the season, both fixtures carry added importance in the early battle for the top positions.
Al Wasl host Shabab Al Ahli at Zabeel Stadium at 20:30 on Friday in one of the standout fixtures of the round and one of Dubai football’s most anticipated derbies.
The two teams have met 34 times in the Pro League. Shabab Al Ahli have won 14 of those encounters, Al Wasl have claimed 11 victories, while nine matches have ended in draws.
Al Wasl enter the derby after winning their opening two matches of the season. Their impressive league form stretches even further, with seven consecutive ADNOC Pro League victories, scoring at least twice in every match during that run.
A victory on Friday would see Al Wasl win their opening three matches of a Pro League season for only the second time, having previously achieved the feat in 2023-24.
Shabab Al Ahli have also started the campaign with two victories and will be looking to make it three from three. They are aiming to win their opening three matches of a season for the sixth time in their Pro League history.
Their attacking consistency also stands out, with Shabab Al Ahli finding the net in each of their last 22 league matches, the second-longest scoring streak in the club’s Pro League history.
Saeid Ezatolahi adds another interesting dimension to the derby. He has scored 15 goals in the Pro League, including three against Al Wasl. Fabio Lima and Grafite share the record as the leading scorers in Pro League meetings between the two clubs, with seven goals each.
Attention then turns to Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday, August 29, where Al Ain host Al Nasr at 20:30 in another major Matchweek 3 encounter.
Al Ain hold a clear historical advantage in the fixture. The two teams have met 34 times in the Pro League, with Al Ain recording 21 victories compared with eight for Al Nasr, while five matches have ended level.
Al Ain have won their opening two matches this season and will be looking to maintain their perfect start. Victory against Al Nasr would mark the seventh time they have opened a Pro League campaign with three consecutive wins.
Their home record provides further confidence, with Al Ain unbeaten in their last 20 ADNOC Pro League matches on home soil. That run began with a 4-1 victory over Al Nasr in January 2025.
Al Ain also have an outstanding record in August, having never lost a Pro League match during the month. They have registered 12 victories and one draw, while their 21 wins against Al Nasr represent the highest number of victories recorded by any team against the Dubai club in Pro League history.
Al Ain have scored 63 goals in their Pro League meetings with Al Nasr, compared with 33 for their opponents. Marcus Berg is the fixture’s leading scorer with six goals, while another notable statistic shows that Al Nasr’s last 10 league goals against Al Ain have been scored by 10 different players.
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