Khorfakkan take on the visitors Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the round 8 match of UAE League. The match will be played on Thursday, November 20th at Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium (Khor Fakkan).
Khor Fakkan were founded back in the early 1980s, but only began to make noticeable progress after the change of ownership and rebranding in 2017. Even then, this improvement merely secured them a place in the top division, where they consistently avoid relegation but also fail to achieve anything significant. Last season they again had no real chance of fighting for international qualification: with 33 points they finished just below the middle of the table, in 8th place. This season’s start has been no better — after the first six matches they recorded an even split of two defeats, two draws and two wins. Naturally, with an average of just over one point per match, it is unrealistic to expect anything beyond simply maintaining their Pro League status. Recent results suggest that Khor Fakkan struggle to build momentum, often alternating between positive and negative performances. Their defensive stability has also been inconsistent, which prevents them from challenging stronger opponents on a regular basis.
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Shabab Al Ahli are not as strong at the start as usual, but there is a clear reason for that. The Red Knights were excellent last season. They reclaimed the league title after a one-year break — the ninth national championship in their history — and set a new record by winning an eleventh President’s Cup. This year, however, the AFC Champions League has consumed much of their energy: Azmoun and company opened with a draw against Tractor Sazi before beating Al Ittihad from Jeddah and Nasaf, but then suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat to Al Duhail. Their domestic start has also been below their usual standard — yes, they still won the majority of their matches, four out of seven, but they also suffered an unexpected loss. With an average of exactly two points per match, the giants remain ahead of Al Wahda and especially Al Ain. And relying on their experience and overall quality, Paulo Sousa and his side are confident they will reclaim the leading position over the full distance. Despite occasional setbacks, Shabab Al Ahli have generally shown more cohesion as the season progresses and typically raise their level in key fixtures. Their ability to control matches for long stretches has also been evident, which keeps them among the favourites in both domestic and continental competitions.
After nine consecutive wins from 2021 to 2024, the Knights had to settle for a draw in December, and on this same stadium. But in April in Dubai, the hosts returned to winning ways with an emphatic 4-0 victory. It is difficult to imagine the visitors allowing anything significant to their opponents — we back them to win with a -1 handicap.
Prediction for the match: Shabab Al Ahli to win with -1.0 handicap.
