Sadd face Sailiya, aim to get back to winning ways

Al Sadd will aim to get back to winning ways when they take on Al Sailiya in the QNB Stars League today. The Wolves dropped points last week after being held to a draw by Al Markhiya and are now behind leaders Al Duhail (32 points) by four points.
Al Sailiya are also coming off a draw against Al Arabi with the Peregrines’ gap with fifth-placed Umm Salal (19) reduced to just one point.
Sadd are likely to miss the injured duo of ace striker Baghdad Bounedjah and midfielder Ahmed Sayyar. Bounedjah has been out of action ever since he injured his leg during the against Al Duhail that they lost 2-4, while Sayyar pulled his back muscle during training ahead of the Markhiya clash.
However, they have the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Jugurtha Hamroun and Hassan al-Haydous to do the trick. They had recently strengthened the squad with goalkeeper Sami Subait and striker Ali Faridoun.
Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira said: “The Al Sailiya match will not be easy. It will be more difficult and I hope my players display a strong reaction after we were forced to play out a goalless draw with Al Markhiya
“Al Sailiya are a strong side with many top-quality players who are capable of turning the tide of a match. So the games against them are always tough, but we will seek to collect three points,”
Meanwhile, Sailiya have not won a game since their 3-2 victory over Al Gharafa in Week 8. Tunisian coach Sami Trabelsi is known for bringing the best out of his players and he will rely on the experience and expertise of playmaker Wagner Ribeiro, Valentin Lazar, their top scorer Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov and captain Majdi Siddique. Al Sadd had won 3-2 when they met in the first phase.

Al Rayyan vs Al Kharaitiyat
In the another match, Al Rayyan will keen to extend their winning streak, having made a strong start to the league’s second phase with a 3-0 victory over Al Khor, and close the gap with Duhail. The Lions are third on goal difference after being tied with Sadd on 28 points.
They may not start Moroccan striker Abderrazzaq Hamdallah as coach Michael Laudrup does not want his injury to aggravate ahead of a hectic schedule, with the AFC Champions League engagements too coming their way.
However, they have a strong squad consisting mainly of Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian Soria and Mohsine Moutaouali. Tunisian Ahmad al-Ajlani-coached Al Kharaitiyat would look to put behind their 1-3 defeat to Umm Salal and garner some points as they stare at relegation.
The Thunders are warming the 10th position with nine points. They have managed to register only two victories. Moroccan forward Rachid Tiberkanine leads their charge. Al Rayyan had won 3-1 in the first phase.
Umm Salal vs Al Gharafa
Umm Salal and Al Gharafa are on a high following their victory over Al Kharaitiyat and Al Ahli respectively. Tunisian attacking midfielder Oussama Darragi has suddenly become Umm Salal’s hero with his two-goal effort on debut in Qatar.
Egyptian coach Mahmoud Jaber’s confidence at the post-match Press conference is justified as the injured trio of Ismael Mahmoud, Adel Alawi and Bazman Awad is set to return. However, Ivorian striker Yannick Sagbo may be missing in action as he is still nursing an injury.
New recruits Dutch star Wesley Sneijder and Iranian Mehdi Taremi will be the aces of Al Gharafa, ably led by midfield strongman Luis Jimenez.
New coach Bulent Uygun will expect nothing less than three points in The Cheetahs’ quest for a top-four finish.
They are now sixth with 14 points. The teams had played out a goalless draw in the first phase.