Al Ain have suffered a setback ahead of their ADNOC Pro League opener, with head coach Vladimir Ivic confirming that Moroccan forward Soufiane Rahimi will miss Saturday’s clash against Al Bataeh due to injury.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Ivic said Rahimi’s injury is not serious but he will not be fit in time for the match at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Egyptian defender Rami Rabia will also be absent for the same reason.
Rahimi has been a key attacking figure for Al Ain since joining the club, playing a decisive role in their AFC Champions League triumph last season. His absence is expected to weigh heavily on the team as they start their domestic campaign.
Ivic stressed his respect for Al Bataeh, urging his players to approach the match with full seriousness. “We must take every opponent seriously,” he said, noting the importance of focus in the season’s first fixture.
On the opposite side, Al Bataeh’s coach Farhad Majidi said his squad will face the Asian champions with courage and determination. “We will try to achieve a positive result that can give us a strong push at the start of the season,” Majidi told reporters.
Saturday’s match will be closely watched as Al Ain begin their title defense without one of their main attacking weapons.
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