Two wide-open and unpredictable clashes headline the first-leg semifinals of the ADIB Cup, kicking off tomorrow, Friday, 5 December.
Al Nasr host Al Ain at Al Maktoum Stadium at 16:50, while the second semifinal brings together Al Jazira and Al Wahda at 19:30 at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
All four teams enter the round aiming to secure a positive first-leg result before the decisive second-leg fixtures on 13 December.
Al Ain are set for their eighth ADIB Cup semifinal appearance, while Al Nasr reach the semifinal stage for the sixth time.
The upcoming encounter will be the 17th meeting between the two sides in the competition — the most frequent matchup in ADIB Cup history.
Their head-to-head record is perfectly balanced: 6 wins for each team out of 16 matches, along with 4 draws.
This season marks the third time the clubs meet in the semifinals. Al Nasr advanced in the 2019–2020 edition, while Al Ain went through in 2022–2023.
Al Nasr also boast a strong home record in the competition, having lost only once in their last 12 home matches (6 wins – 5 draws). That lone defeat came against Al Ain in October 2023.
Al Ain, meanwhile, have never lost a first-leg semifinal in the ADIB Cup (3 wins – 2 draws).
In contrast, Al Nasr have suffered two first-leg defeats at this stage — including a 1–4 loss to Al Ain in May 2023.
Al Jazira enter the semifinals for the 11th time, while Al Wahda make their 10th appearance.
The teams have met 12 times previously in the competition, with Al Jazira holding a significant advantage: 8 wins, compared to just one win for Al Wahda, alongside 3 draws.
Despite that historical dominance, Al Wahda bring a major strength into this year’s campaign:
They hold the highest average possession in the ADIB Cup this season (60%) and have completed the most touches inside the opposition penalty area (113).
Send feedback
