Players battling for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 20: Kuwait Club, the league leader, will face a tough test in its championship pursuit as it takes on Al-Salmiya at 7:05 p.m. at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in the 16th round of the Zain Premier League. Earlier in the day, Al-Arabi will meet Yarmouk at 4:50 p.m. at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Stadium.

Kuwait Club, sitting atop the standings with 40 points, aims for its 14th league victory as it pushes towards another league title. The team is well-equipped with a strong squad capable of maintaining its lead. However, "Al-Abyad" is aware that any dropped points could jeopardize its position, especially with Al-Arabi trailing just two points behind. Adding to the challenge, Al-Salmiya proved to be a formidable opponent in its first-leg encounter, where Kuwait Club narrowly won 4-3.

On the other hand, fourth-placed Al-Salmiya (27 points) enters the match with high ambitions. The team seeks redemption against Kuwait Club and aims to climb to third place, hoping for a slip from Al-Qadisiya (29 points), who will face Al-Nasr on Sunday. However, Al-Salmiya has struggled with consistency in recent matches, drawing 2-2 with Al-Fahaheel, losing 2-1 to Al-Qadisiya, and securing a narrow 1-0 win over Khaitan.

In the second match of the day, Al-Arabi (38 points) looks to return to winning ways after a goalless draw against Kuwait Club in the previous round. The team hopes to secure another victory over Yarmouk, having defeated it 2-0 in its first-leg encounter. With only eight rounds left in the season—three in the second phase and five in the championship round—Al-Arabi cannot afford any setbacks in its title chase.

Despite a significant 33-point gap between the two teams, Al-Yarmouk is expected to put up a fight. The bottom-placed side (5 points) has already secured its place in the relegation playoffs but will aim to end a 15-match winless streak (10 losses, 5 draws) and begin its survival bid on a strong note against Al-Arabi.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff