FOOTBALL – SITRA and Al Najma claimed important victories last night as they continued their fight to avoid the relegation play-offs in the 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Sitra powered to a resounding 3-1 win against Al Shabab, who are now confirmed as the second of two teams who will be making the automatic drop to the Bahrain First Division for the 2026-27 season. Najma, meanwhile, outclassed already relegated Bahrain Club 3-0.
Also yesterday as part of an action-packed, three-fixture schedule that kicked off this campaign’s 21st and penultimate matchweek, A’ali claimed a hard-earned 2-0 win over Budaiya, who are another team in danger of having to appear in the relegation play-offs.
This round of games continues tonight with three more matches on schedule – headlined by the titanic clash between current leaders Al Khaldiya and defending champions Muharraq. It is a contest that could decide this year’s race for the crown.
Following this evening’s games, the 22nd and concluding week of league play will be held from this Friday to Sunday.
In Sitra’s win last night at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, French professional Kari Kari Maxanc Aristophane fired in a brace for the victors – first opening their account with a 23rd minute penalty and later adding their third in the 68th after guiding a loose ball home from the face of goal.
Sitra were awarded their spot kick after Aristophane was brought down in the box by Shabab’s Mujtaba Abdali Husain.
Brazilian Bruno Luiz Pires Bezerra made it 2-0 for Sitra with an impressive turning effort from inside the area on the half-four mark, but Hussain Ali Alqassab found the net for Shabab right before the break with a stunning volley off a pass from Ali Mohamed Isa for their lone consolation.
Almatan reacts after scoring his stunner from near mid-field as teammate Mohamed Abdulqayoom Abubakar joins him in celebration
With the result, Sitra improved to 24 points following their sixth win, putting them momentarily out of the positions that will see them compete in the relegation play-offs – which are to be contested by the two premier league clubs in ninth and 10th at the end of the season and the third and fourth-placed teams from the first division.
Shabab suffered their 13th defeat and remained on 14 points in second-to-last with just one game remaining.
Meanwhile, in Najma’s triumph at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz, skipper Mohamed Eid Almatan scored a sensational goal from near half-field in the 13th minute. He caught Bahrain Club custodian Abdulghafoor Fatah Shah well off his line and floated the ball over him into the net.
French striker Zachary Marvin Hadji added Najma’s second in the 65th minute, and then Saleh Ali Alzabidi pegged the final score from the penalty spot in the 80th minute. Najma were given the spot kick after Serbian defender Dusan Jokovic was taken down by Shah on an aerial challenge.
Najma registered their sixth win and went to 22 points but are presently in one of the two relegation play-off spots. They handed Bahrain Club their league-worst 18th defeat.
In A’ali’s victory over Budaiya at the National Stadium in Riffa, Diego Cardoso Nogueira scored a stunner from near mid-field – the second of the night across league action – in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. Substitute Hassan Oumar Abdelaziz then added their second five minutes from the end of regulation.
A’ali cemented their hold of fifth on the table as they climbed to 31 points with nine wins, while Budaiya stayed on 21 after being dealt their 12th setback.
Tonight’s fixtures will see Khaldiya and Muharraq face off at the National Stadium in Riffa, while Riffa take on Malkiya in another top-four clash at Al Ahli Club Stadium. Ahli battle Hidd at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in the third match.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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