Al Suwaiq, Al Nasr encounter to thrill OL Round 5

Leaders Al Suwaiq are aiming to continue their brilliant start and lead at top of the Omantel League (OL), when they take on nearest challengers Al Nasr in the fifth round. Elsewhere, revived Fanja will have a tricky trip to Dhofar in the ‘Oman classico’. While, third-placed Saham will travel to face Mirbat as both vie to reach nine points. This round of fixtures will be played on Friday. Al Oruba host Sohar, Al Salam welcome Oman club, Al Nahda play Al Shabab, while Muscat take on Al Mudhaibi. Before the action of week five, the standing table looked normal especially with the list of 26-man that Verbeek called for Oman national team, which included eight players from Al Suwaiq. At Sohar Stadium (20:30), Al Suwaiq will hope to achieve to main things: Firstly continue their fifth straight win in the campaign, and extend their lead from challengers Al Nasr to five clear points. Romanian manager Belachi, who always likes to attack, will depend on Oman national team strikers Abdulaziz al Muqbali and Khalid al Hajri to give three points. However, Al Nasr are the best defensive team, having conceded only one goal, and play a high-profile tactical game with Egyptian manager Hamza al Jamal. It is a game between the best attacking team and best defensive one. In the fixture in which both the teams have 19 OL titles between them, Fanja will hope to continue their winning ways when they travel to meet defending champions Dhofar. It kicks off at 20:30. Despite both the teams not in great form, the match is expected to be a thrilling one. This season, Salalah giants Dhofar are suffering a number of absences due to injuries especially with the medical reports that emphasised the absence of Spanish striker Hugo Lopez until the end of the season. Newcomers Mirbat and Saham will fight to stay in the third spot as both of them have six points each. Mirbat have won their last two games against Fanja and Sohar and will be keen to overcome Saham. Al Salam will try to return to winning ways when they host Oman Club. After a good start in first two rounds, newcomers Al Salam (four points), then lost twice. On the other side, the other 4-point Oman Club were able to overcome their first two defeats by beating Al Nahda in round three and drew with Muscat last week. Sitting in the fifth and sixth places with 6 points for Al Shabab and Al Nahda, are not their dream especially runner-ups Al Shabab. This game will give both of the teams the intention to race to top spot. In the other fixtures, Sohar, who suffered a shock home defeat from Mirbat last week, will travel to face Al Oruba who aspire to return to winning ways after Fanja’s defeat. While Al Mudhaibi will be keen to record first point in OL when they play with unbeaten side Muscat at Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex (18:30). Jaber al Ajmi