In contrast, Al-Ramtha, Shabab Al-Ordon, Al-Faisaly, and Al-Wehdat will have to treat the single point each of them gathered in the first round as a starting point needing reinforcement, while Al-Arabi, Doqra, and Al-Hussein find themselves facing the urgent necessity of turning a new page quickly, so that a stumbling start does not turn into early pressure.
According to the match schedule, Al-Jazeera meets Shabab Al-Ordon at 7:00 PM today at the Petra Stadium, and the competitions continue tomorrow, Friday, where Al-Hussein meets Al-Baqa'a at 6:00 PM at King Abdullah II Stadium, before Al-Faisaly faces its counterpart Doqra at 8:30 PM at the Amman International Stadium.
The round concludes on Saturday with Al-Ramtha meeting Al-Arabi at 6:00 PM at King Abdullah II Stadium, while Al-Salt meets Al-Wehdat at 8:30 PM at the Amman International Stadium.
The first round witnessed the scoring of 12 goals, led by Al-Jazeera with a clean five against defending champion Al-Hussein Irbid, while Al-Salt defeated Al-Arabi 3-1, Al-Baqa'a defeated Doqra 1-0, Shabab Al-Ordon and Al-Ramtha drew 1-1, and Al-Wehdat and Al-Faisaly drew goalless.
With these results, Al-Jazeera topped the standings on goal difference ahead of Al-Salt and Al-Baqa'a, Al-Ramtha, Shabab Al-Ordon, Al-Faisaly, and Al-Wehdat held one point each, while Doqra, Al-Arabi, and Al-Hussein remained without points.
Perhaps the most prominent feature of the second round is that the standings table is still in its infancy.. only three points separate the leader from the rest of the teams, and a single point places four clubs in a mid-table zone, while three teams are still searching for their first points, making the phrase "claiming a new position" the most prominent headline of the round.
Al-Jazeera wants to protect the lead, Al-Salt wants to close in on it, Al-Baqa'a wants to cement its place among the front-runners, while Al-Ramtha, Shabab Al-Ordon, Al-Faisaly, and Al-Wehdat want to transition from one point to three, as Doqra, Al-Arabi, and Al-Hussein seek to open their points account.
According to the competition system, the tournament is held with the participation of ten clubs in a three-stage single-round robin system. The team that accumulates the highest number of points at the end of the three stages is crowned champion, while the last two teams are relegated to the First Division.
This means that the second round cannot be decisive, but it will certainly be influential in shaping the general mood of the competition.
Al-Jazeera.. A Lead That Needs Confirmation
Al-Jazeera arrives at the second week carrying the most prominent headline of the competition's opening: a five-goal haul against the defending champion.
The scoreline alone was not the striking part, but rather the way it came about, as Al-Jazeera settled a large part of the matchup against Al-Hussein during the first half after Ahmed Al-Harahsheh scored three goals in the 3rd, 40th, and 45+5th minutes, before Rashid Shawahneh and Yassin Al-Bakhit added the fourth and fifth goals.
Al-Jazeera, which signed Al-Harahsheh and Yassin Al-Kakkouri before the start of the league to bolster its ranks, found itself after just 90 minutes at the top of the standings and with the best goal difference among the competition's teams.
Yet the question that quickly forces itself ahead of the Shabab Al-Ordon match: Can Al-Jazeera maintain the same image when it enters a new match as the team everyone is chasing?
The confrontation will not be a carbon copy of the Al-Hussein encounter, and Shabab Al-Ordon proved in the first round that it is capable of staying in the match until the very last moments, having snatched a draw from Al-Ramtha with Sol Castro's goal in the 90+1st minute, following Al-Ramtha's opening goal by Alphousseyni Gassama early in the second half.
Therefore, Al-Jazeera is required this time not only to win, but to prove that the first round's five-goal performance was not just an opening flash, but a declaration of a team wanting to contend early for a top spot.
Al-Harahsheh in particular has an extra opportunity to turn heads after stealing the spotlight with his hat-trick, announcing after the match his ambition to earn a chance with the Al-Nashama national team, at a time when Badou Zaki monitored the first round matches and the player stood out as one of the local names worth following.
Al-Salt.. Points with a Different Taste
Al-Salt emerged from the first week with a convincing 3-1 victory over Al-Arabi, placing itself in second place on goal difference behind Al-Jazeera.
The team displayed clear offensive prowess, particularly through Suleiman Babatunde who scored a brace in the 25th and 76th minutes, alongside Khaled Essam's goal in the 65th minute, while Ahmed Shdeifat scored Al-Arabi's sole goal in the 47th minute.
However, Al-Salt's upcoming test will be much tougher when it meets Al-Wehdat on Saturday evening at the Amman Stadium.
Al-Wehdat did not lose in the first round, but it did not win either, after its summit clash against Al-Faisaly ended in a goalless draw. The match was balanced, with both teams exchanging offensive attempts without either managing to find the back of the net.
Hence, the matchup between Al-Salt and Al-Wehdat appears as one of the most prominent headlines of the second week; Al-Salt wants to maintain its position among the leading teams, and Al-Wehdat wants to turn the single point into three.
A win for Al-Salt could keep it at the summit or push it back there, while granting Al-Wehdat the chance to leap several places should the teams ahead of it stumble.
Al-Baqa'a.. A Different Encounter
Al-Baqa'a was the first winner in the current edition after overcoming Doqra with Mohammad Al-Aksh's goal in the tenth minute.
Although the victory came via a single goal, its value for a team returning to the competitive atmosphere is clear, especially since Al-Baqa'a began the competition with a win and kept a clean sheet.
However, the upcoming matchup pits it against Al-Hussein, the defending champion, who enters the match under the pressure of making amends following the heavy five-goal defeat.
Herein lies the particularity of the encounter; Al-Baqa'a wants to confirm that its first victory was not merely a good start, while Al-Hussein wants to quickly erase the image it left the opening round with.
Al-Hussein.. For a New Page
It is difficult to discuss the first week without pausing at length on the defending champion.
Al-Hussein, which finished last season at the top with 62 points, began its title defense campaign with a heavy defeat against the "Red Devils," a result that early on placed the team before the need for a swift reaction.
What is required now is not just securing points, but regaining the character of the team that was crowned champion of the competition last season.
The encounter with Al-Baqa'a might be a suitable opportunity for that, but at the same time, it is not easy because Al-Baqa'a enters it with the confidence of an opening win.
For Al-Hussein, walking away with the three points will be more than just a victory, as it will put the team back on track and alleviate the effects of the heavy start.
Al-Faisaly and Doqra.. To Change Position
Al-Faisaly enters the second round with a single point from a goalless draw against Al-Wehdat.
The summit clash did not grant either team a numerical advantage, but it showed that Al-Faisaly and Al-Wehdat are capable of delivering a defensively balanced match, pending the development of offensive efficiency as the rounds progress. Match statistics point to 17 shots for Al-Wehdat compared to 11 for Al-Faisaly, with comparable possession.
Now.. there is no room to miss a new opportunity against Doqra. Al-Faisaly, harboring grand ambitions, knows that gathering three points at this stage could mean moving from sixth place to a more advanced zone, especially if the results of other matches serve its calculations.
As for Doqra, which lost to Al-Baqa'a by a lone goal, it is searching for its first point or a victory that restores its balance and grants it an early morale boost.
Al-Ramtha and Al-Arabi.. With Different Ambitions
Al-Ramtha emerged from its first match against Shabab Al-Ordon with a point, after taking the lead through Alphousseyni Gassama before Sol Castro snatched the equalizer in stoppage time.
Al-Ramtha appeared close to claiming all three points before the opportunity slipped away in the final moments.
As for Al-Arabi, it suffered a 1-3 defeat against Al-Salt, which places it before the necessity of making amends when it faces Al-Ramtha.
The northern matchup carries contrasting calculations; Al-Ramtha wants to build on its performance and partial positive result, while Al-Arabi wants to erase the effects of the start and move away from the bottom.
In such matches, the difference of a point or a position holds little value, because a win alone is capable of completely altering the picture.
Shabab Al-Ordon.. A Point Is Not Enough
Shabab Al-Ordon displayed a fighting character in the first round, snatching a draw from Al-Ramtha in the 90+1st minute.
The point the team secured may be important psychologically, but it does not seem sufficient if the team wants to start the season in a comfortable position.
The clash with Al-Jazeera represents a much tougher test; the opponent tops the standings after scoring five goals in the previous round.
Yet Shabab Al-Ordon enters the match undefeated and knows that escaping with a positive result from the Petra Stadium against the league leader could grant it a huge boost for the rest of the journey.
Zaki Opens the Name Ledger
While competing for points is the direct headline of the second round, there is another headline that imposes itself on the players: "Badou Zaki's List".
The new Moroccan coach of the Al-Nashama national team has already begun monitoring the league, with an intention to open the door for new names ahead of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, especially given the technical staff's need to closely evaluate local options. Zaki and his assistants attended a number of matches in the first round, including the summit between Al-Wehdat and Al-Faisaly, and the fixture between Al-Jazeera and Al-Hussein.
According to what "Alrai" and media sources have followed, the national team's first gathering is expected to take place during the upcoming international break, starting from September 21, marking the beginning of the preparation phase for the Asian competition. This makes the opening weeks of the league even more crucial for local players.
Competition is no longer just among players for a starting spot in their clubs, but has also turned into a window to showcase their capabilities to the new coach.
Al-Harahsheh provided a clear example in the first round, but the door is not limited to him. Every player capable of making a difference, especially in positions where the national team needs additional options, knows that the upcoming matches could serve as an open trial.
This monitoring comes at a time when recent reports indicated that Zaki is facing challenges in the offensive line, with injuries and a drop in readiness for some options, which puts the performance of forwards and players arriving from deep under the microscope.
The Five-Goal Haul Raises the Bar
All these calculations make the second week different from the first. In the opening round, the question was: Who will start better?
Now, the question has become: Who can maintain their start? And who can turn it around?
Al-Jazeera holds the top spot, the goals, and a blazing Al-Harahsheh, but faces a new test.
Al-Salt has three points and a good attacking performance, but faces Al-Wehdat, who are seeking a win.
Al-Baqa'a faces the defending champion who wants to rise, Al-Faisaly is looking for its first win, Al-Ramtha wants to turn a point into three, and Shabab Al-Ordon wants to build on its last-minute goal.
As for Al-Arabi, Douqra, and Al-Hussein, they have no choice but to make amends.
Amidst these calculations, the league remains open to numerous possibilities, because the first round gave no one more than a temporary advantage, and did not close the door on any competitor.
Today, the process of rearranging the "points bank" begins, and the features of the top spot may change with every goal, every victory, and every stumble.
Al-Jazeera wants to stay in first place, Al-Salt and Al-Baqa'a want to snatch it, and the others want to close the gap.
Among all of them, an early truth emerges: positions in the Pro League are not secured in a single round, but are wrested match after match.
As the date of the Al-Nashama gathering approaches, the players know that the competition is not limited to the club's badge or the three points; there is also the eye of the national team's technical staff and a new notebook of names that might carry Badou Zaki's surprises.
Thus, the second week enters with more than one calculation (three points for the standings, three points for confidence, and perhaps ninety minutes that grant a single player a ticket to the Al-Nashama squad).
