Asian champions Al Ain have no room for error as they aim to get their AFC Champions League Elite campaign back on track against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr on Tuesday.
Hernan Crespo’s team have a solitary point from three games and are fighting to keep their continental hopes alive in Group B; they are currently in 11th position while only the top eight qualify for the next stage.
Al Ain have not tasted victory in three matches across competitions, which included a high-scoring defeat to Al Hilal last time out, adding more pressure for the match at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on Tuesday.
While Al Ain have not been in the best of form, their opponents have some concerns of their own.
Al Nassr, in fifth position in Group B, were held to a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal that left them five points behind their bitter rivals in the Saudi Pro League standings and also stretched their winless run to three matches.
What's more, Portuguese star Ronaldo has suddenly found himself in a goal drought, failing to score in four games including a rare missed penalty against Al Taawoun.
Nassr, who earlier were on a run of seven wins in a row across competitions, were surprisingly held by Al Kholood in a 3-3 draw before suffering a shock 1-0 home defeat to Al Taawoun in the King's Cup. They were then held by SPL leaders Al Hilal in the league after taking an early lead.
Ronaldo and Al Nassr still have two chances at silverware this season but are already well behind leaders Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and have seven points from three games in the group stage of the Asian Champions League.
“Technically we performed well but we couldn’t win the game,” manager Stefano Pioli said after the King's Cup defeat. “We feel disappointed to be out of the cup. But we still have two trophies to go for and we will give our best in them.”
Al Ain manager Crespo said that while his team need to put in a much better performance, luck is also a factor.
"We are well aware of what is required from us and we do have full confidence in our capabilities to realise our goal, which is to qualify to the next stage," Crespo said.
"Sometimes the team needs the luck factor because we did not [have] a weak performance against Al Hilal and we did not deserve to face defeat."
Al Ain began their defence of the Asian title with a 1-1 draw against Al Sadd but since then, have lost to Al Gharafa 4-2 followed by an agonising loss to Hilal two weeks ago where even a hat-trick from Soufiane Rahimi was not enough for victory.
Al Ain have not fared well in the Adnoc Pro League either. Their last two games in the domestic competition have been disappointing, including a 2-1 home defeat to Al Wahda followed by a 1-1 draw to basement team Dibba Al Hisn. They are eighth in the league standings with two wins, two defeats and a draw.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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