By Jaber Al Ajmi — MUSCAT: May 14 - Table-toppers Dhofar travel to meet Suhar, Al Shabab clash with Al Suwaiq, and Al Oruba host Saham in the penultimate week of Omantel Professional League (OPL), today. In the other fixtures, Oman Club take on Muscat in the derby of the Capital, Jaalan host Al Khabourah, Al Naser play with Al Nahdah and Fanja meet Al Rustaq. The countdown is on the end season with only two weeks left. The battle is on fire and continues on this rhythm in the top and bottom. The scores of the last week put Al Oruba in the title race as they now have four points, only three points behind the leaders Dhofar (47 points) and two points behind Al Shabab (46 points). In the play-off zone, four teams: Al Khabourah, Oman Club, Muscat and Saham will compete to avoid playing with Mirbat in the play-offs promotion.
Dhofar, who came back again to lead the table after more than 10 weeks, will travel to Suhar for only full points to keep their top spot going to the last week when they host Al Shabab which is expected to be the title tie.
Al Shabab will try to come back to winning ways when they clash with Al Suwaiq in the derby of Al Batinah South. Al Shabab unusually lost in the last two weeks to Oman Club and Muscat, to give the lead to Dhofar, but the chance to win the title is still very high for them if they win the remaining two games. Al Suwaiq, who have qualified for the HM’s Cup final, have been doing good work in the second part of the competition and now are in the sixth place and they will try to use the remaining two games for preparing for the HM’s Cup final.
The title race of the third placed Al Oruba depends on the loss of the competitors Dhofar and Al Shabab. They also hope to defeat Saham when they host them at Sur Stadium. Saham who came back from behind to beat Jaalan last week will also need the points in order to keep themselves away from the play-off relegation zone.
In the play-off relegation zone, the derby of the Muscat city between Oman Club and Muscat will be the game of the week as both of them struggle to avoid relegation. Oman Club now are set in the 11th place with 27 points while Muscat have 29 points holding the 10th place. The 12th placed Al Khabourah, who have 26 points, will travel to face the relegated Jaalan. It’s a great chance for Al Khabourah, who defeated Al Rustaq last week, to beat Jaalan this week as Jaalan have no hopes in the campaign anymore.
The newcomers Jaalan and Al Rustaq were officially relegated to the First Division League last week.
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