A file photo of Kuwait Club and Al Qadsiya players challenging for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, May 5: The Zain Premier League reaches a decisive stage as Kuwait Club faces Al-Qadsiya tonight at 8:10 pm at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, in the fourth and penultimate round of the championship group. Earlier in the evening, Al-Arabi takes on Al-Tadamon at 5:35 pm at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium.

Kuwait Club leads the standings with 54 points, closely followed by Al-Arabi in second place with 52. Tonight's outcome could prove critical in the title race, especially with a highly anticipated showdown between Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi scheduled for the final round on Sunday.

Kuwait Club enters tonight’s game determined to maintain momentum and secure its fourth consecutive league title — the 20th in its history. Montenegrin coach Nebojsa Jovovic will rely on his squad's strong form, especially after its emphatic 5-0 win over Al-Salmiya in the previous round.

The two sides have already met three times this season. Al-Qadsiya handed Kuwait Club its only domestic loss with a 2-1 victory in the second round of the league, while Kuwait Club won 1-0 in the first round. It also faced off in the Super Cup, which Kuwait Club claimed via a 7-6 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Al-Qadsiya, currently third with 38 points, is out of the title race but hopes to equal Kuwait Club’s win tally this season. With no pressure on its shoulders, the team looks to rebound under Montenegrin coach Zeljko Petrovic as it prepares for the upcoming  Amir’s Cup — its last opportunity for silverware this season.

Al-Qadsiya is aiming to break a string of poor results, including back-to-back defeats by its archrival Al-Arabi, one of which knocked it out of the Crown Prince Cup.

In the day’s first match, Al-Arabi looks to keep the pressure on Kuwait Club by securing a win over Al-Tadamon, a side that has already guaranteed its Premier League status and has little left to play for.

Coach Nasser Al-Shatti is fully aware that today’s game won't be easy, as Al-Tadamon previously challenged his side in both rounds of the league matches that ended 3-1 and 1-0 in Al-Arabi’s favor.

Victory today would keep Al-Arabi in the hunt and set the stage for a title-deciding match against Kuwait Club in the league’s final round.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff