The opening round of the ADNOC Pro League saw Champions Al-Ain dramatically drop points at Ajman, while debutants Al-Bataeh shone as the 2022-23 season promised plenty of intrigue in the coming weeks and months.
Bahrain winger Ali Madan鈥檚 fortunate strike saw Ajman hold the Boss to a 1-1 draw in Friday鈥檚 opener, with last term鈥檚 26-goal leading scorer Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba also failing to convert a penalty deep into second-half injury time moments after VAR ruled out a winner for the hosts.
There was contrasting emotion for promoted Bataeh 鈥� only founded in 2012 鈥� who triumphed 2-0 against supposed dark horses Al-Ittihad Kalba, through Lourency and Joao Novais鈥� fine efforts.
Spain hit man Paco Alcacer sealed a 2-0 win for Sharjah at Leonardo Jardim鈥檚 Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club, Joao Pedro鈥檚 headed brace salvaged a late 2-2 draw for Al-Wahda amid the vibrant atmosphere at Al-Wasl and club legend Ali Mabkhout repeated the trick in Al-Jazira鈥檚 2-0 triumph versus First Division League victors Dibba Al-Fujairah.
Saska Ivkovic got the only goal as 10-man Baniyas held on against Khor Fakkan and Al-Nasr pegged back Al-Dhafra in a 1-1 stalemate.
Here are Arab News鈥� top picks and a talking point from matchweek one:
Player of the Week: Ali Mabkhout (Al-Jazira)
A summer break has, seemingly, done iconic Al-Jazira striker Mabkhout the world of good.
The UAE football鈥檚 leading scorer for both club and country registered only 10 top-flight goals last season, his lowest return in eight years. But the striker already matched 20 percent of this tally within the opening 27 minutes at a carnival Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Revitalized Mabkhout reveled in the company of electric new additions Florin Tanase and Achraf Bencharki, picking out the former鈥檚 delicate chipped ball to lash in the opener. He would then win, via Marcelo鈥檚 high boot, and convert the second from 12 yards.
The 31-year-old set the standard as Jazira played at a furious tempo both impressive for the late-summer heat, and last consistently witnessed during 2020/21鈥檚 title charge.
Club and player can take real confidence headed into this month鈥檚 grandstand clash with Al-Ain.
Goal of the Week: Gilberto (Al-Wasl)
A leveler rich in promise takes top honors in the opening week.
Gilberto has made a career 鈥� from the US to the UAE, via Turkey and Brazil 鈥� from converting tap-ins. Yet, the goals dried up in an inauspicious second half of 2021-22 with fresh employers.
The pace and precision of Al-Wasl鈥檚 first strike in the box-office draw with Al-Wahda has offered ample hope of what is to come.
Argentine battler Geronimo Poblete鈥檚 deep pass to fellow new boy Gabrielzinho broke the lines. An artful one-two with UAE golden boy Omar Abdulrahman raised Zabeel Stadium supporters from their seats, prior to a grateful Gilberto tapping into an open net for a fifth UAE Pro League goal in 15 run-outs.
Last term鈥檚 tactical straitjacket imposed by former coach Odair Hellmann has been torn off by expressive successor Juan Antonio Pizzi. It鈥檚 intriguing to see how Al-Wasl 鈥� and their previously muted center forward 鈥� progress from base camp.
Coach of the Week: Caio Zanardi (Al-Bataeh)
Zanardi assumed control during a moment of remarkable change at Bataeh.
More than a dozen transfers were concluded this summer by a ferociously ambitious club, determined to excel upon their top-flight bow.
Extensive experience in the technical staff at Al Nasr aided this extreme acclimatization. Similarly, an adherence to finely calibrated football previously on show at Khor Fakkan.

These tenets were on display at Ittihad Kalba Stadium versus hosts boasting Galatasaray loanee Alexandru Cicaldau in their XI.

Possession (67 percent/33 percent) was ceded and goalkeeper Zayed Ahmed was required to make the round鈥檚 most saves (six). But the two sides recorded identical expected goals of 1.5 in identical 3-5-2 formations, with the visitors 鈥� at a ground they鈥檒l share for at least the season鈥檚 start 鈥� profiting via Lourency鈥檚 ruthlessly dispatched counter-attack and Novais鈥� rocket from the penalty box鈥檚 edge.

Further encouragement is provided by the fact this was achieved without 2015 AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil. Friday鈥檚 result won鈥檛 be a one-off if he can be inspired to reach previous peaks when adopted into the matchday squad.

Make the most of this momentum

These promise to become halcyon days in the ADNOC Pro League.

A pre-season defined by smart additions in the dugouts and eye-catching recruitment on the pitch was followed by the welcome sight of packed stands.

Champions Al-Ain colored half of Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Stadium purple and white. A raucous, sold-out Zabeel Stadium provided a fitting backdrop for an undulating contest of genuine quality between Wasl and Wahda, while Jazira鈥檚 commitment to community initiatives 鈥� including their Brazilian half-time show 鈥� drew a strong crowd to the recently upgraded Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

This turnout was made all-the-more encouraging by temperatures still pushing 30 degrees Celsius in the early evening kick-off slot.

There is a 鈥減roduct鈥� to be embraced 鈥� and a bountiful promise to be fulfilled.

Spain predator Alcacer got off to a goal-scoring start for Sharjah, who retain major ambitions in the transfer window鈥檚 final month. Ukraine maestro Andriy Yarmolenko can only improve after his middling opening appearance for the holders. Jazira鈥檚 attacking trio looks guaranteed to thrill.
November鈥檚 World Cup poses a unique challenge to maintaining momentum. But the condensed fixture list ahead of November鈥檚 enforced break may, actually, boost this process.
A 14th season of professionalism could become the greatest, yet.