Undefeated Lekhwiya face draw specialists Al Shahania today

In other matches, strugglers Al Khor host reigning QSL champions Al Rayyan, while Al Wakrah take on Al Sailiya

The final round of Qatar Stars League action before the winter break kicks off today evening with three games involving sides who will be desperate to finish the first half of the season on a high.
The first game of the day will see title chasing Lekhwiya take on Al Shahania at Lekhwiya stadium. The Red Knights are still undefeated in the league this season, and needed a 96th minute winner to defeat Al Ahli in round twelve.
As for Al Shahania, they picked up a vital point in their quest for survival with a 2-2 draw against Al Khor. Jose Fernando’s side are fast gaining a reputation as the draw specialists in the QSL, and four ties from their last six games certainly backs it up. The Oryxes will be targeting a headline grabbing win against Lekhwiya.
Lekhwiya will be aiming for a win to put pressure on league leaders Al Sadd. Head coach Djamel Belmadi stressed that only a win would do for his title chasing side. “It’s the last game of the first round, for us against Al Shahania we want to win the game before the break,” said the Algerian. “Yeah I am satisfied, we are undefeated in the league we have won the Sheikh Jassim cup and drawn three times in the league. Looking back we could have perhaps only two games based on our performance” noted the former Qatar national team boss.
Belmadi also revealed that he has been impressed by his opponents, but insisted it will be a tough challenge as ever for his side.
Shahania head coach Jose Fernando stressed his side are looking for a result. “Lekhwiya are a strong team with good players, but nothing is impossible in football we head into the last game for this part of the season, looking for a positive result,” he said.
Later in the day, the 6:15pm kick-off at Al Khor stadium, league strugglers Al Khor will have a tough test against the reigning QSL champions Al Rayyan.  Khor stopped the rot of losing games with a 2-2 draw against Shahania and will be aiming to inflict Rayyan their third defeat of the season. As for Rayyan they will be looking for their third straight league win to put pressure on fourth placed Al Gharafa.
Al Khor coach Jean Fernandez wants his side to end the first half of the season with a positive result. “We will play against the champions, it will be a difficult match for us. We have played well in the last games. We deserved to win against Shahania so we will be ready to put in the best performance at home” noted the French tactician.
Fernandez believes his side has turned a corner. “Yes, it was very important to stop the run of defeats. After leading 2-0 we were disappointed we could not win, but generally we were happy with how we played,” he added,
Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup talked up the qualities of his side following their 3-0 win over Al Arabi in the Doha Derby. “The team is full of confidence right now, we played well against a good team and we registered a big victory I am very pleased with the performance.”
“It’s important to finish the year well, Al Khor are fighting to stay in the Qatar Starts League, so this game will be a challenge for us” noted the Danish coach.
Rayyan put in one of their best performances of the season against Arabi, and Laudrup said that his side are looking to push on to defend their QSL title in the second half of the season.
“We showed that we played well and that we can win against Al Arabi and bar a few games this season we have had a good first half. It is up to us as a squad to push on in the second half of the season and compete for trophies,” he said
Rayyan will be without two key defenders in Mohammed Alaaeldin and Musa Haroon for the trip to Al Khor, but Laudrup belives his squad will be able to fill for the two right sided defenders.  In the third and last match of the day, Al Wakrah face Al Sailiya. Both sides come into the game off the back of 3-1 defeats to Al Sadd and Umm Salal respectively and will be aiming to pick up all three points heading into the winter break. Wakrah coach Kais Yaakoubi emphasised the importance of the tie for his side, when he said: “Al Sailiya will be an important test for us before the end of the league. After our defeat to Umm Salal our moral was low. I expect a reaction from the players. We have to play with tactical discipline in all of our games. We played badly and I don’t expect we will play that badly again in the season.”
As for Al Sailiya, they have started to push away from the relegation zone and will be targeting a win to give themselves a gap away from the relegation zone. Al Sailiya’s Tunisian coach Sami Trabelsi said: “Wakrah are doing well, but the results have not gone their way. We have prepared well for the game, even though the calendar is tight.  
“The result is important for both teams, I am expecting an exciting match and of course I am hoping that Sailiya will get the win before the new year” noted the veteran QSL coach.