Abahani take on struggling MSC
Defending champions Abahani will square off against perennial rivals Mohammedan as the ninth round of the Bangladesh Premier League kicks off today.
The two traditional powerhouses will face off at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka at 6:30pm after three-time champions Sheikh Jamal host Saif Sporting Club at 3:30pm at the same venue.
This is the first time this season that the two popular clubs will come face to face, but there is not expected to be too much attention drawn to this fixture as the duel has become a one-sided affair over the last decade, with Abahani having racked up six titles of the top-tier professional league against the sorry figure of zero for Mohammedan.
While Mohammedan have failed to cross the hurdle of the group stages in both the Federation Cup and the Independence Cup this season, Abahani already have silverware in their cabinet in the form of the Federation Cup trophy.
The fortunes in the league have also been skewed heavily towards the Sky Blues, who are second in the 13-team table with 17 points from eight matches, a point behind leaders Bashundhara Kings, who have played seven matches.
Mohammedan, on the other hand, are languishing just above the relegation zone, with five points from seven matches.
However, the Black and Whites might take some confidence from consecutive draws in their last two matches, coupled with the fact that Abahani lost their last match against Sheikh Russel.
A win for Abahani would see them regain their lead, at least temporarily, while a win for Mohammedan would come as a big boost in their struggles to move off the danger zone and into relative safety.
Sheikh Jamal, meanwhile, will be looking to get back to winning ways after consecutive draws while a win for Saif SC would keep them well and truly in the title race.
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