Leaders Al Arabi to take on Al Sadd in Qatar Derby today

Table toppers Al Arabi will take on reigning champions Al Sadd in the Qatar Derby of the 2022-2023 QNB Stars League season at the Al Arabi Stadium today.
The league returns to action after a postponed week of action since many of the club players were doing duty for their national teams at the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup.
The 7pm kick-off clash will provide its own excitement for the fans irrespective of the teams’ standings in the points tally. Both teams have exciting stars who are capable of stealing the show on a given day.
Al Arabi are at the top of the standings with 22 points from seven wins, a draw and a loss, while Al Sadd are eighth with 10 points from three wins, a draw and four defeats.
“We know that Al Arabi are a strong competitor and are at the top of standings. Their leadership stature provides more value to the match,” Al Sadd coach Juan Maneul Lillo ‘Juanma’ said.
“Presently, we have the players who have returned after the World Cup and they are adapting to their new roles. We also have players who were with the national team at the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup. With all these players back in the side, a new and different path begins for the team,” he said.
Speaking on the eve of the match, Al Sadd defender Pedro Miguel said: “The match will be difficult because Al Arabi are in good form and have a good team. Al Sadd are also ready. Some of our players have now returned. We need the points and everyone knows that this is a very difficult match but we are ready. Our goal is to win and continue to compete for the league title.
“The team is well prepared to face Al Sadd and our preparations were good during the past week after the postponement of Week 10 matches. So it was good especially since the Al Sadd match is always difficult,” he said, adding, “Our team is game for it and we will do our best to put up a strong showing.
Al Sadd are looking for compensation after losing the services of more than one player in the first seven matches and we are also looking to produce another distinguished appearance and collect the three points.”
The Dream Team has achieved two successive victories over Al Ahli and Al Wakrah after the long break and consolidated their position on top of the table.
Al Arabi would be keen to keep winning in their bid to stay on top and ultimately win the league title, which has been eluding them for many seasons now.
“The team is well prepared to face Al Sadd and our preparations were good during the past week after the postponement of the matches. So it was good, especially since the Al Sadd match is always a difficult one,” Al Arabi coach Younes Ali said.
“We will face a strong competitor. They have always been a difficult competitor for all the teams. But our team is game for it and we will do our best to put up a strong showing.”
Al Arabi have collective and individual brilliance to achieve the big target and will count mainly on Syrian star Omar al-Somah and Tunisian Yousef Msakni, who both are in good form.
“An important match awaits us against Al Sadd, who are strengthened after the return of their international players. However, we are fully prepared for the match and come out with the best result,” Msakni said.
“It is too early to talk about topping the league, we are still in the 11th round and we will take each match separately. The one against Al Sadd will be tough for both teams.
“Al Sadd are a big team that is not affected by the absence of some players, and they achieved victory in the last round. Their players will definitely be ready to meet us. We will also do our best to win and make our fans happy,” he said.
Other matches of the week will not be less exciting as the teams seek to collect more and more points to enhance their position in the table. Another important encounter will be between Al Gharafa, placed 6th with 12 points, and Al Rayyan which is second-to-last position with four points, tomorrow at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium.
Al Shamal face Al Duhail in the opening match of the week at the Al Duhail Stadium today.
The match is crucial one for both teams who will be striving to get the valuable three points, especially Al Duhail – who are eager to make it to the top of the rankings. Only two points separate Al Duhail and leaders Al Arabi, while Al Shamal are also looking to score wins to improve their position.
Al Duhail so far have 20 points from nine matches, while Al Shamal are in seventh place with 10 points obtained from seven matches, after their matches were postponed when the league resumed after a long break. Al Shamal made a great start and are keen to continue what they did before the break.
They have achieved three wins and a draw apart from three defeats and thus want to make amends and return to the path of more success and positive results with good performance and results. Al Markhiya will face Al Ahli at the Al Duhail Stadium today. While Al Ahli are in the top four, Al Markhiya are ninth and would aim to challenge their rivals. Al Ahli have recorded three wins and four draws and lost two games so far to take their points tally to 13. Their last win (2-1) came at the expense of Al Sailiya.