Shabab Al-Ahli and Sharjah are set to face each other five times this month across multiple competitions, beginning with the first leg of their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final clash on Wednesday in Dubai. This high-stakes encounter marks the start of an intense rivalry between the two Emirati clubs, who will also meet in domestic competitions during this period.
Shabab Al-Ahli coach Paulo Sousa acknowledged the significance of the upcoming matches, particularly the AFC Champions League tie. “This is an important moment in the tournament against a strong and experienced team like Sharjah, who have had a good season,” Sousa said. He expressed confidence in his team’s readiness despite challenges and called for strong fan support to motivate the players.
The two teams will play two matches in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, with the first leg on Wednesday and the return leg next week. The winner will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face either Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun or Iran’s Tractor. In addition to these continental clashes, Shabab Al-Ahli and Sharjah will also meet three times in domestic competitions, making for a total of five encounters in just one month.
Sousa highlighted the unusual nature of facing the same team so frequently in a short span. “It’s strange in my career to play the same team five times in a row within a month, but we will give our maximum effort and see what happens by the end of this period,” he said.
The first match on Wednesday promises to set the tone for this intense rivalry, as both teams aim to gain an early advantage in their quest for continental and domestic success.
