Just one win separates Al Sadd and Al Duhail at the top two of QNB Stars League table. While the defending and recent Amir Cup champions Al Sadd have notched eight straight wins from as many matches thus far, Al Duhail have scored seven victories. The key clash on Wednesday therefore will provide for an absorbing contest at the Al Gharafa Stadium (7.55pm kick off).
Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez knows well the potential of Duhail and said his team was excited for today’s match. “The matches between Al Sadd and Al Duhail are the best in Qatar now. Currently, we are the best two teams in the tournament. Al Sadd are at the top of the table with a difference of three points and we must work hard to win to continue to lead. Al Duhail have signed good players such as Toby Alderweireld and Nam Tae-Hee, and they have other foreign players such as Olunga and Edmilson, and it will be a difficult match and we are very excited to play in this type of match,” said the former Barcelona and Al Sadd star.
“They have a very good coach in Luis Castro. He is working well and you can see that in the team. We expect a tough game and we have to play at our best level to get the three points for sure,” he added.
Revealing what he’s told his side, Xavi said: “I told the players that if we get the three points against Al Duhail, of course the difference will be six points and we will be in the best position to win the league again. Certainly, it is still early and this match will not decide anything. But it will be very important because we can increase the difference to six points.”
Xavi expects Boualem Khoukhi and Akram Afif to deliver in a big way. “We are talking about two very important players – Akram and Khoukhi – who can make the difference in their position. I expect that we can count on them, but we have to see how they feel. I am optimistic, but their participation depends on how they feel better.”
In contrast, Al Duhail coach Luis Castro said his team will have come up with an inspiring show against reigning champions. “Our preparations for this match are like the previous ones. There will be an assessment of the players’ physical condition and injuries, and then we will determine the squad that will play the match. We want to score full points and I want to say that the result of the match will be either a win, a loss or a tie, but the league will not end after this match. The journey is still long. The Al Sadd match is very important, but it is not decisive. If we win, we will equal points and if we lose, the league is still long. A draw is a bad result for both teams.
“I must work to achieve victories. I have seen teams that win the league in the last round and there are others who managed to score in the last seconds of the matches. We must focus. If we lose, it will not make me go home and stop training.
“Al Sadd have a strong attack. So have we. Everyone saw our team and there is defensive work that both teams must do. We will work to close the spaces in front of the attackers.
“We, in Al Duhail, have all the capabilities to achieve a positive result. We will enter the stadium in order to achieve victory. And we know that we will face a very difficult team, but we are up to the task and my team can play at any stadium and face any team,” said Castro.

Al Rayyan aim to
regain confidence
Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa will meet in another key clash at the same venue. Both teams are hoping to bounce back after facing defeats in the last rounds. Laurent Blanc-coached Al Rayyan are placed six with nine points while Al Gharafa are fifth in the table with 12 points. Al Rayyan will be without Colombian star James Rodriguez, who got injured during defeat to Al Arabi.
Rayyan coach Laurent Blanc said was hoping his team can regain confidence with a resounding win. He said: “Preparations after the Al Arabi match are complex and easy at the same time, because there are only three days to prepare for the match. I think the best preparation after the Al Arabi game is mental preparation because we did not play a good match against Al Arabi. We only played in the last 20 minutes of the match, so all players, coach and fans are not happy. So we have to prepare mentally for the Al Gharafa match.”