Al Ahli will hope to keep pace with leaders Al Duhail at the top of the table when they take on Al Rayyan in the Qatar Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium today.
Al Ahli are riding high in the league, sitting second in the standings with 14 points. They have just had one loss – a 1-0 defeat to Al Duhail in their last match with Igor Biscan stressing the importance of bouncing back from that setback, believing his team has what it takes to get back to winning ways.
Biscan praised Al Rayyan’s quality but expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to respond positively. “We are playing against a strong and experienced team that also competes in the AFC Champions League. It won’t be easy, but we aim to win and return to form. We learned a lot from the loss to Al Duhail and are ready to show improvement,” Biscan said.
Al Rayyan currently sit in eighth place with 9 points, having secured three wins and four losses so far. In their most recent league outing, they edged Al Khor 2-1 in a closely contested match. However, their confidence took a hit earlier this week after a 2-1 defeat against Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in the AFC Champions League Elite. Despite playing well in the second half, Rayyan failed to convert key chances, adding pressure ahead of this match.
Meanwhile, at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Shahania will meet Al Shamal as both teams look to gain valuable points. Al Shamal are currently sixth with 10 points after three wins, one draw, and three losses. They come into this game on the back of an impressive 5-2 win over Al Arabi, with Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah starring with nine goals this season. Mohammed Omar also shined in the last match, scoring twice, including a stunning strike from midfield.
Coach Nuno Almeida expects a tough battle but hopes his team can carry their momentum forward. “Al Shahania are a good and well-organized team, as they proved by beating Al Duhail earlier this season. We need to stay focused and maintain our form to achieve another win,” Almeida said.
On the other hand, Al Shahania are struggling near the bottom, sitting 11th with five points. They have only one win so far, along with two draws and four losses. Their coach, Alvaro Mejia, believes his team can bounce back despite a 2-4 defeat to Al Sadd last week.
“We must stay focused and keep building on our improvements. Some injured players have returned, and we hope they’ll be ready for this match. Every point matters for us to move away from the bottom of the table,” said Mejia.
Today’s another match pits Umm Salal against Al Khor at the Grand Hamad Stadium in what promises to be a hard-fought contest. Both teams are under pressure to improve after recent defeats.
Umm Salal, currently seventh with 10 points, slipped in the standings following a 1-3 loss to Al Gharafa last week. Coach Patrice Carteron is focused on addressing the team’s shortcomings and getting back to winning ways.
Meanwhile, Al Khor are struggling at the bottom of the table with just three points from seven matches, making them the only team yet to secure a win this season. Despite a narrow 1-2 loss to Al Rayyan last week, Al Khor have shown signs of improvement under new coach Mehdi Nafti.
Nafti emphasised the importance of building momentum: “We’re working hard to improve the team, and I see good progress from the players. Our focus is to play well and earn points, no matter where we are in the standings.”
Both teams know this is a vital game to escape the lower part of the table, and a win could spark a much-needed revival.
Leaders Al Duhail will be in action tomorrow, as they take on Al Gharafa at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. The Red Knights returned to winning ways overcoming Al Ahli by a solitary goal scored by Kenyan star Michael Olunga after the side had suffered their only loss of the league so far against Al Shahania by a 1-2 margin.
Al Gharafa are fourth in the standings with 11 points from three wins, two draws and as many losses, and are looking forward to continue their winning run after beating Umm Salal 3-1 in their previous match.
Defending champions Al Sadd, meanwhile, take on Al Wakrah at the Al Janoub Stadium tomorrow. Al Sadd after a rough start are in third spot with 12 points with four wins and having suffered three reversals. Al Wakrah are in fifth place with 11 points having scored three wins and two draws, and suffered two losses.
The Al Thumama Stadium will host the Al Arabi vs Qatar SC clash. Both teams enter the match under different circumstances given their results in the previous round.
In the league’s seventh round, Al Arabi lost to Al Shamal 2-5, while Qatar SC beat Al Wakrah 2-1. In their opening match of the Gulf Club Champions League, Al Arabi held Qadsia of Kuwait 1-1 at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday.
Al Arabi are currently ninth in the Qatar Stars League standings with seven points, the same as that of Qatar SC – who are in 10th place on goal difference.