Al Nasr welcome Al Dhafra on Friday in Matchweek 8 of the ADNOC Pro League, in a clash that blends the Blues’ long-standing dominance with Al Dhafra’s exceptional start to the season, a contrast that adds extra edge and intrigue to the encounter.
The two sides have met 26 times in the ADNOC Pro League history. Al Nasr have claimed 13 wins, compared to just three for Al Dhafra, while 10 matches ended level, a record that clearly tilts the historical balance towards "Al Ameed".
Al Nasr also hold a notable attacking advantage in this fixture; they have never scored more goals against any other ADNOC Pro League opponent than they have against Al Dhafra. Their tally of 51 goals matches the total they have scored against both Al Wasl and Al Jazira.
Yet despite their historical superiority, Al Nasr find themselves in a difficult spell. They have lost five of their last nine home league matches, as many defeats as they suffered in the previous 28 home games combined (W17, D6, L5).
They are also winless in their last six matches in all competitions (D2, L4), including a 1–0 league defeat to Shabab Al Ahli.
This season, Al Nasr have collected eight points from their opening seven fixtures, five fewer than at this stage last year. They have scored only six goals so far, compared to 18 in the same period last season, highlighting a clear decline in attacking efficiency.
On the other side, Al Dhafra are enjoying their best start in years. Their 12-point haul from the first seven rounds is their highest ever at this stage, matching their entire tally from their most recent ADNOC Pro League campaign in 2022–23. It signals both tactical growth and improved mentality within the team.
Al Dhafra have also shown a particular threat from distance, leading the league with three goals scored from outside the box. Fittingly, their last goal against Al Nasr in the Pro League also came from long range, a strike by Khalid Al Darmaki in September 2022.
Makhete Diop tops the all-time scoring charts in this fixture with nine goals.
Historically, the matchup has delivered plenty of goals: Al Nasr have scored 51, while Al Dhafra have netted 32, making this one of the ADNOC Pro League’s most consistently open and attacking fixtures.
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