Ferreira, Laudrup tactical battle adds spice to Qatar Clasico

The second Qatar Clasico match of the QNB Stars League 2017-18 season between Al Rayyan and Al Sadd on Thursday at the Al Sadd Stadium is sure to be a high-stake encounter in every sense of the word. Justifiably so, considering the teams’ strength, reputation, history, performance, popularity, fan support, etc. Al Sadd are second in the table with 37 points, two behind Al Duhail and as many more than third-placed Al Rayyan.
Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira of Portugal and his Al Rayyan counterpart Michael Laudrup of Denmark are both master tacticians and have produced excellent results. And that makes the ‘Qatar Clasico’ a battle for technical supremacy as well.
Both coaches have been with the respective sides for some time now and know how to bring the best out of their players. Off the field, the much-awaited encounter will be a grand fiesta for supporters of two teams with the most fan base in Qatar football. Rayyan had won the previous Qatar Clasico 2-1, Al Sadd will look to settle the score.
The Wolves have the likes of Spanish great Xavi Hernandez, Jugurtha Hamroun, Morteza Mohammad and Hassan al-Haydous to match The Lions’ line-up of  Abderrazaq Hamdallah, Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian Soria and Mohsen Moutaouli. Moroccan striker Hamdallah is Rayyan’s top scorer with 12 goals and is the third highest in the list, after Al Duhail’s Youssef el-Arabi (20) and Youssef Msakni (14). Rayyan’s playmaker Rodrigo Tabata has scored 11 goals, while striker Sebastian Soria has found the net nine times.
Al Sadd’s top scorers are Qatar international al-Haydous and Algerian attacking midfielder Hamroun, with eight goals each. Hamroun, who had scored a brace in Weeks 13 and 14 but missed Sadd’s last match due to suspension, will be back in action.
Rayyan are coming off their 3-1 win over Al Markhiya, while Sadd got the better of Qatar SC by the same score. Rayyan’s first-choice goalkeeper Omar Barry is experienced enough, but will find it hard to contain the Sadd offence, where Algerian ace Baghdad Bounedjah is a doubtful starter even though he trained with the team on Sunday.
Sadd custodian Saad al-Dossari has also proved his mettle, but if Hamdallah & co have their way, he will also be at the receiving end. In defence, the Lions are served by Gonzalo Vieira, Mousa Haroun, Mohammed Alaelddin and Mohammed Juma, whereas Morteza Mohamed, Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan and Hamed Ismail man The Wolves’ defence. 
Xavi leads the charge in Sadd’s midfield, also consisting of al-Haydous and Hamroun, while al-Rayyan have in-form Mohsine Moutaouli and Daniel Goumou to assist Tabata.