Blockbuster Sunday

Defending champions Abahani and former champions Sheikh Russel KC will look to regain the solo lead in the Bangladesh Premier League when they take the field in the first two matches of the seventh round at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.

Six-time champions Abahani, who take on strugglers Brothers Union, come into the match on the back of a four-match winning streak. Since their second-match defeat against Bashundhara Kings, they have moved from strength to strength, and a win would today take them to 18 points from seven matches, three clear of Kings who have 15 points from five matches.

National team striker Nabib Newaz Jibon is himself in a rich vein of form, scoring five goals to move to the top of the goal-scorers' chart, and the Sky Blues will be hoping for more of the same from him as well as foreign strikers Sunday Chizoba and Kervens Belfort.

However, before Abahani's match, Sheikh Russel will have the opportunity to take the lead as they square off against three-time champions Sheikh Jamal DC in the day's first match.

Sheikh Russel are two points off the lead on 13 from five matches. The only blemish for Saiful Bari Titu's charges was the game before their last, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Saif Sporting Club. However, they bounced back, beating Chittagong Abahani in their last match. Sheikh Jamal, too, have been in good form of late. Having collected only one point from their first three matches, the Dhanmondi giants have since strung together a three-match winning streak and a win today would help them close the gap with the leaders.