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Robert Firmino registered a hat-trick as Al Sadd humbled Umm Salal 8-3 in the Qatar Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium. The defending champions led 3-2 at half time.Firmino scored in the 24th, 65th and 70th minutes of the match while Akram Afif (28th minute), Rafa Mujica (43rd minute), Giovani Henrique (48th minute), Claudinho (73rd minute), and Agustin Silvera (80th minute) contributed a goal each.For Umm Salal, Edidiong Essien (31st minute), Jean Evrard Kouassi (45+5 minute), and Sayed Hassan Issa (90+3 minute) were on target. The mercurial Afif besides scoring one goal was also instrumental in initiating two other strikes, and provided assists in two more.Veteran Hassan al-Haydos made an assist for Firmino to complete his hat-trick. The big margin win was Al Sadd’s fourth of the league and took their tally to 14 points to prop them two places up into 5th while Umm Salal remain 11th with six points after a seventh loss.Al Sailiya rally to hold Duhail 2-2Al Duhail threw away a two-goal lead and were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Sailiya at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. The Red Knights were in cruise control in the first half with two superb goals, a stunning opener from Krzysztof Piątek in the 38th minute and another great goal by Edmilson Junior in the 43rd minute, before Al Sailiya turned the situation around in the second half through Khaled Ali who secured the equalizer within three minutes (58th minute) and (61st minute).Al Duhail, who advanced to 12 points to be 7th in standings, were guilty of several missed opportunities, while Al Sailiya, who have been suffering from inconsistent performances, count themselves lucky to have escaped with a point that moved them to 7 points and 10th place in the standings.

Al Shamal handed Umm Salal a 5-0 thrashing in the Qatar Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium Saturday to go second in the table behind leaders Al Gharafa.Their fifth win of the league took Al Shamal’s tally to 17 points to be second in the standings, ahead of Qatar SC on goal difference. Umm Salal with a sixth loss are in 11th with 6 points while Al Gharafa are at the top with 19 points.Umm Salal were also reduced to 10-man in the 88th minute when Diyab Haroon Taha was sent off for a foul against Baghdad Bounedjah.In what a forgettable day for them, Umm Salal also suffered from two goalkeeping errors at the start which saw Al Shamal go up with a 2-0 lead before they added three more to the scoreline. Al Shamal led 3-0 at half time.Alex Collado (11th & 54th minutes), Issoufou Dayo – Own Goal (18th minute), Badghdad Bounedjah (38th minute), and Moufak Awad (90th minute) contributed the goals.Umm Salal goalkeeper Jehad Mohammad Hudib had a horror when a powerful Collado kick went through his hands and legs. Seven minutes later, there was more trouble as Hudib failed to read a back pass from Dayo, getting beaten to his right as the ball rolled into the net. Bounedjah added a third scoring from in front of the goal off a fine assist from Collado.In the second half, Collado struck again from top of the box with his left-footer finding the left corner of the net. Just ahead of added time, a Bounedjah free kick was blocked by a leaping Hudib but Moufak Awad lunged forward to kick the ball in to complete a 5-0 rout. On a day when nothing seemed to go right for Umm Salal, a second half free kick also hit the right post before falling away in what was the only glimmer of hope.Ahli beat SailiyaEarlier at the Grand Hamad Stadium, Al Ahli scored a 2-1 win over Al Sailiya to move to 9th spot. Al Sailiya with 6 points are in tenth.Julian Draxler scored a brace (27th & 90 +1 minute - penalty) to bounce Al Ahli back to winning ways while Al Sailiya’s only goal was scored by Youssef Sinana (45 + 3 minute) via a penalty.Draxler’s made a stunning right-footed shot from the right side of the box to open the scoring, while Al Sailiya’s Sinana restored parity via a spot kick just before half time after Al Ahli’s Hilal Mohammed handled the ball in the danger area. With the match heading for a draw, Draxler, once again, made the difference as he scored from the spot at the stroke of regulation time to give The Brigadiers an important victory.

Al Wakrah struck late to edge Qatar SC 1-0 in the Qatar Stars League at the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium Friday.Both teams battled hard for a breakthrough and it was only in the 86th minute that substitute Raul Gomez managed to connect a corner kick with his outstretched leg to score for The Blue Wave.The goal left their fancied rivals a bit frustrated. In 90+3 minute, Qatar SC’s Serigne Fallou Diouf was sent off after a second yellow for a foul against Al Wakrah’s Hamdi Fathi.It was Qatar SC’s first loss of the league championship and saw them move a rung down from the top position with their tally remaining on 17 points while Al Wakrah moved to fourth with a total of 14 points after their fourth win.Al-Naimat, Olunga fire Arabi past ShahaniyaAt Al Thumama Stadium, Al Arabi secured their second straight victory after defeating Al Shahaniya 2-0.The ‘Dream Team’ dominated possession for most of the match but had to wait until the closing stages to make their superiority count. Jordanian striker Yazan al-Naimat broke the deadlock in the 84th minute, before Kenyan forward Michael Olunga doubled the lead just three minutes later to seal Arabi’s third win of the season.The result lifted Al Arabi to eighth place in the standings with 10 points, while Al Shahaniya remain bottom with four points, facing increasing danger of relegation. After being named player of the match, al-Naimat expressed his delight at contributing to the win. “I dedicate this victory to Al Arabi fans and hope for a bigger turnout in the coming matches,” he said. “The team has changed a lot under coach Cosmin Contra, who is doing an incredible job. I came in and did my duty — scoring a goal and providing an assist. I dedicate this award to all my teammates and to our fans.”In Saturday’s matches, Al Sailiya will face Al Ahli at 5.30pm at the Grand Hamad Stadium while Umm Salal meet Al Shamal at 7.30pm at Al Khor Stadium.

Al Sadd and Al Rayyan will renew their storied rivalry in the Qatar Clasico Thursday at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, headlining the ninth round of the Qatar Stars League.The two giants of Qatari football meet under contrasting circumstances — Al Sadd are desperate to end a worrying winless run, while Al Rayyan arrive brimming with confidence after climbing into the top four.The reigning champions Al Sadd have struggled to find their rhythm this season, going four games without victory, including a 3-1 defeat to Al Arabi in the previous round that left them languishing in seventh place with eight points. For Sergio Allegri’s men, a turnaround is imperative if they are to keep their title hopes alive.“It is clear that the match against Al Rayyan will be very evenly matched,” said Al Sadd coach Allegri Wednesday. “They are coming off a good win and will have high morale, but we are working hard to get the three points and move up the standings. The players are motivated — they know how important this match is for everyone at the club, especially the fans.”Al Rayyan, meanwhile, are enjoying a strong campaign under Portuguese coach Artur Jorge. A 2-0 victory over Al Wakrah in the last round lifted them to fourth place on 13 points, with Brazilian striker Roger Guedes leading the league scoring charts with seven goals.“The Al Sadd match will be a big one because it’s against the league champions and the best team in the league,” said Jorge. “We’ll play with the same approach — to win — and we’re confident of achieving victory. The management did a great job in the transfer window, and now we need to build a winning mentality. I promise the fans we’ll fight for every title.”Rayyan forward Rodrigo Moreno is also relishing the challenge. “It will be a big match against the league champions, and we must prepare in the best possible way,” he said. “We’re focused, and the coach is always pushing us to perform at our best to get the three points.”In another high-stakes showdown Thursday, Al Gharafa will take on Al Duhail at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in a clash that could reshape the top of the standings. Al Gharafa sit second with 16 points after defeating Al Ahli 3-1 in the previous round, while Al Duhail are fifth with 11 points following a 2-0 victory over Al Shamal.Friday’s fixtures will feature league leaders Qatar SC, who face Al Wakrah at the Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium. Qatar SC, under Spanish coach Marquez Lopez, lead the table with 17 points after edging Umm Salal 2-1 last week. Al Wakrah, who slipped to sixth with 11 points after losing to Al Rayyan, will be determined to bounce back and stay within reach of the leading pack.Also Friday, Al Arabi will look to build on their morale-boosting 3-1 win over Al Sadd when they meet Al Shahaniya at Al Thumama Stadium. The victory lifted Al Arabi to eighth place, while Al Shahaniya, rooted to the bottom with four points, are under pressure to respond following a narrow 1-0 loss to Al Sailiya.Saturday’s action sees Al Sailiya take on Al Ahli at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium. Al Sailiya have surged off the bottom with back-to-back wins and now sit ninth with six points, while Al Ahli are second from bottom on goal difference after their defeat to Al Gharafa. At Al Khor Stadium, Umm Salal will meet Al Shamal in a crucial tie for both teams. Al Shamal dropped from first to third following their first loss of the campaign to Al Duhail, while Umm Salal, with just six points, are desperate to stop a run of two straight defeats.

Joao Pedro scored a brace to give 10-man Qatar SC 2-1 win in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) match against Umm Salal to lift them to top spot Sunday.Qatar SC are now top of the table with 17 points, one more than second-placed Al Gharafa, while Al Shamal are at the third place with 14 points. Former champions Al Rayyan, who defeated Al Wakrah 2-0 Sunday for their fourth win of the season, are at the fourth place with 13 points.At the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Pedro scored a penalty in the 51st minute before finding the net again in the 85th minute after Rami Suhail had given Umm Salal the lead in 45+3 minute.Qatar SC were reduced to 10 men as early as the 14th minute, with Ahmed Sayyar given the boot after a second successive booking for nasty fouls committed by him.With their one-man advantage, the pendulum began to swing in favour of Umm Salal, and they made their numerical strength count with Rami Suhail bagging the opener with a header from the centre of the box just before the half-time break. Qatar SC came back for the concluding half of the match, determined to fight to a standstill, irrespective of being a man down, and their resilience paid off in the 51st minute with Joao Pedro scoring a fantastic penalty goal to restore parity following a bad foul on Ali Saoudi by Umm Salal’s Naim Laidouni.Pedro emerged as the star of the night for his side when he scored his second of the night and the winning goal for The Kings with a right-footed shot from outside the box, which perfectly located the bottom left corner of Umm Salal’s goal to ensure the maximum points for his team.Al Sailiya 1 Al Shahania 0Al Sailiya clinched a crucial 1-0 win over Al Shahania in an absorbing match at the Al Khor Stadium Sunday. The only goal of the match was scored by Diogo Amaro, who deflected in a teammate’s header, in the 35th minute of the match.The win, Al Sailiya’s only second of the league, took their tally to six points. Al Shahania, who tried really hard in the second half to force a deadlock, were unsuccessful in finding a good finish. A Francesco Antonucci free-kick sailed just over the bar, while a Pelle van Amersfoort charge in dying moments was cut off by Al Sailiya goalkeeper Fahad Younis.It was Al Shahania’s fifth loss and pushed them into the 12th place with four points.

Al Gharafa went top of the table after defeating Al Ahli 3-1, while Al Arabi stunned defending champions Al Sadd 3-1 in the Qatar Stars League Saturday. Al Duhail, meanwhile, earned a crucial 2-0 win over Al Shamal, who slumped from top spot to third.At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Sadd suffered a surprise defeat to Al Arabi, who came from behind to seal an impressive win. Akram Afif had given Al Sadd the lead in the 39th minute with a right-footed finish from the centre of the box after a clever through ball from Guilherme. However, Al Arabi responded swiftly through Michael Olunga, who headed home a fine cross from Rodri Sanchez just four minutes later.Misfortune struck Al Sadd moments before half-time when defender Ahmed Suhail inadvertently turned a Mohammed Khaled cross into his own net to hand Al Arabi the advantage. Matters worsened for the hosts when Paulo Otavio was sent off for violent conduct, leaving them a man short before the break.Al Arabi sealed the result late in the second half when Sanchez capitalised on a rebound after substitute Salem Reda’s shot struck the upright, firing home to make it 3-1. The win lifted Al Arabi to ninth place with seven points, while Al Sadd remained on eight points in seventh.Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham said that the match against Al Arabi was difficult and that the team is going through its toughest period. “The match was difficult, and the expulsion of Otavio affected us, especially since the players were feeling exhausted. We are going through a difficult period and it has been a while since we achieved any victory. We do not know exactly what the problem is. The fans support the team and we must return in better shape,” he said.Meanwhile, at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Al Duhail recorded a vital win over Al Shamal. Krzysztof Piatek opened the scoring in the 25th minute before Tahsin Jamshid doubled the lead in the 41st. Despite Benjamin Bourigeaud missing a penalty late on, the Red Knights held firm for their third win of the campaign, taking their tally to 11 points as they stayed fourth. Al Shamal, suffering their first defeat of the season, remained on 14 points and dropped to third.Al Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi praised his side’s display, saying: “We achieved an important victory against Al Shamal. This result reflects our teamwork and determination. The players gave a great effort tonight, and I thank them for their performance and commitment.”In the day’s other fixture, Al Gharafa climbed to the summit with a convincing win over Al Ahli at Al Thumama Stadium. Goals from Ferjani Sassi (47th minute), Seydou Sano (62nd minute) and an own goal by Amin Tihi (90th minute) helped Al Gharafa to victory, while Al Ahli’s lone goal was scored from the penalty spot by Julian Draxler in the 59th minute.The result took Al Gharafa to 16 points at the top of the standings. Qatar SC, who are in action Sunday against Umm Salal, can leapfrog Gharafa with a win.After an exciting but goalless first half, Sassi opened the scoring for Al Gharafa two minutes into the second half with a beautiful header from the centre of the box following a corner. The goal seemed to spur the hosts into action, and they responded 12 minutes later from the spot through Draxler following a foul on Michel Vlap by Sassi in the penalty area.The Cheetahs restored their lead through Sano three minutes later, who nodded home from an unmarked position following a corner kick by Yacine Brahimi. Al Ahli’s woes were further compounded at the stroke of regulation time when Tihi unwittingly turned the ball into his own net from a blocked shot to ensure a convincing win for Al Gharafa.

The Qatar Stars returns to action Saturday after a brief international break, with the eighth-round fixtures headlined by a traditional and fiercely contested clash between Al Sadd and Al Arabi at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.The competition had been on hold during the group stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which took place in Doha earlier this month. With Qatar securing direct qualification to the World Cup, attention now shifts back to domestic football as clubs seek to rediscover rhythm and momentum.At the heart of this round is the much-anticipated Al Sadd vs Al Arabi derby — a fixture steeped in history and passion, one that rarely disappoints.Defending champions Al Sadd, who have dominated the league over the past two seasons, find themselves in unfamiliar territory after a shaky start to the new campaign. The Wolves have collected just eight points from six games, winning twice, drawing twice, and losing twice — results that have left them in seventh place.Their recent performances have been inconsistent both locally and continentally. Back-to-back league draws against Al Wakrah and Al Duhail were followed by a 1-3 defeat to Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League, extending the team’s winless run to three games. The poor form prompted the club’s management to part ways with Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, appointing his compatriot and assistant Sergio Allegri as interim head coach.For Allegri, Saturday’s match marks his first domestic outing at the helm — and there could hardly be a sterner test. “The upcoming match against Al Arabi will be very difficult,” Allegri said Friday. “They have a new coaching staff, and although their start to the season hasn't been very good, they have distinguished players, both foreign and local professionals. It’s a tough match, and we must be fully prepared to win. Our goal is to be as close as possible to the top of the table, and that is our main objective this season.”Spanish striker Rafa Mujica, one of Al Sadd’s key attacking threats, echoed his coach’s sentiment. “The match against Al Arabi is strong and difficult — mainly because it’s always complicated and also special because it’s a derby,” Mujica said. “We know how difficult it will be, but we’ll give 100 percent and do everything to win.”On the opposite bench, Al Arabi are eager to turn a new page under Romanian coach Cosmin Contra, who takes charge following a turbulent spell that saw the Dream Team suffer heavy back-to-back defeats — 1-8 against Al Duhail and 0-4 against Al Sailiya. Those losses left them with just four points, sitting in the penultimate position on the table.The club reacted swiftly, dismissing Spanish coach Pablo Amo and temporarily handing duties to U-23 coach Yari Rodriguez before finalising Contra’s appointment during the international break. The former Al Ittihad coach is well aware of the challenge ahead but remains confident in his new side’s potential.“I am very happy to be joining the Al Arabi coaching team,” Contra said. “Yes, the team is going through a difficult period, but I believe we are capable of overcoming it and moving forward to achieve the best results. We have good players in the team; we just need to regain confidence. The Al Sadd match will be a strong incentive for the players to give their best and achieve a result that will put the team back in the competitive frame of mind.”Al Arabi defender Alexis Perez added: “We are well prepared for the match despite the strength of the opponents. We need to win to regain confidence, and our goal is to come away with the three points. Al Sadd are a strong team, and the match will not be easy, but we must fully adhere to the coach’s instructions in order to achieve the desired result.”Beyond the derby, Round 8 offers several compelling matchups. At Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, high-flying Al Shamal, who top the standings with 14 points from six matches, will test their unbeaten record against last season’s runners-up Al Duhail. Coach Djamel Belmadi’s side, currently sixth with eight points, are still smarting from a 3-1 AFC Champions League defeat to Al Wahda of the UAE.“We’re fully aware of the importance of facing Al Shamal, the league leaders,” Belmadi said. “We must cope with the pressure of matches and rely on our prepared players.”Saturday’s fixtures also see Al Ahli host Al Gharafa at Al Thumama Stadium, while tomorrow’s games feature Qatar SC versus Umm Salal at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan taking on Al Wakrah at Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, and Al Shahaniya meeting Al Sailiya at Al Khor Stadium.

Al Sadd have parted ways with head coach Felix Sanchez, with assistant coach Sergio Alegre stepping in as interim coach, the reigning Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions announced Wednesday.“Al Sadd Club’s management and head coach Felix Sanchez have mutually agreed to terminate the contract between the two parties. Assistant coach Sergio Alegre will assume responsibility for training the team until a new coaching staff is appointed,” the club posted on its official X handle.Sanchez, 49, took charge of Al Sadd in July 2024, following a celebrated spell with the Qatar national team, where he oversaw their historic AFC Asian Cup title win in 2019 and led the side in their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance on home soil in 2022. The Spaniard’s appointment was seen as a strategic move aimed at restoring Al Sadd’s domestic dominance and rekindling their continental competitiveness.However, the team have struggled for form this season, currently sitting seventh in both the QSL standings and their AFC Champions League Elite group, falling short of the club’s high expectations. Alegre, who worked closely with Sanchez during his tenure with both Qatar’s youth and senior national teams, will now take charge of preparations for Al Sadd’s upcoming AFC Champions League Elite clash against Al Hilal in Riyadh on Tuesday.Al Arabi appoint Contra as new head coachAl Arabi have announced the appointment of Romanian coach Cosmin Contra as head coach for the remainder of the season. The club confirmed the move on its official X account, stating that Contra will lead a Romanian coaching staff, though details of the contract were not disclosed.Contra replaces Pablo Amo, who parted ways with the club after a disappointing start to the Qatar Stars League campaign. Al Arabi have collected only four points from their opening six matches and currently sit 11th in the standings.A former Romanian international, the 50-year-old Contra enjoyed a distinguished playing career with European giants AC Milan and Atletico Madrid before moving into management. His coaching resume includes stints with Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) and Dinamo Bucharest (Romania), among others.Al Arabi will hope the experienced tactician can spark a turnaround as the team seeks to climb out of the relegation zone and rediscover its form in the league.

Omid Ebrahimi’s last-gasp penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw for Al Shamal against Qatar SC in the Qatar Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium Saturday.Iranian midfielder's spot-kick, converted nine minutes into stoppage time, denied Qatar SC what would have been a crucial victory. Instead, Al Shamal stayed top of the table with 14 points, level with Qatar SC, who remain second. Al Gharafa are third with 13 points.The match produced a flurry of chances but neither side could break through in the first half. The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute, when Al Shamal’s Moufak Awad turned Eisa Palangi’s cross into his own net to give Qatar SC the lead.Late drama followed as Al Shamal were initially denied a penalty for a foul on Baghdad Bounedjah after a VAR review in the 85th minute. But deep into injury time, another foul was awarded on Bounedjah, and Ebrahimi made no mistake from the spot to ensure a share of the spoils.Al Sailiya shock Al Arabi 4-0Earlier, Al Sailiya shocked fancied rivals Al Arabi 4-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium. Khalid Ali Binsabaa scored a brace for the winners striking in the 35th and 45+4 minutes, while Youssef Snana (52nd minute), and Mohamed Benyettou (54th minute) added more to the scoreline.Their first win – after five losses – gave Al Sailiya full points but they remain 12th in standings with three points while Al Arabi are 11th with four points. It was a fine show of attacking play and precise striking by Al Sailiya, who were engaged in a fierce battle at the start with Al Arabi - also looking to draw first blood.The Dream Team came close twice to scoring early but on both occasions Al Sailiya goalkeeper Fahad Younis spoiled their efforts. In the 14th minute, a deceiving Roriguez Sanchez shot was blocked by Fahad while in the 30th minute his stretched right leg cut off a potential Isaac Lihadji attempt.Al Sailiya hit back minutes later as Al Arabi goalkeeper Yousef Hassan Ali spilled a shot taken from outside the box but an alert Binsabaa was at hand to make a left-footed kick into the net. Binsabaa doubled the lead for Al Sailiya in added time of first half making a diving header to a fine assist from Mohamed Hassan Al Taabouni.Al Sailiya consolidated soon in the second session with Snana putting in an Al Taahouni through ball that caught as many as five Al Arabi defenders napping. Minutes later, a sweeping Benyettou kick from outside the box left Al Arabi dismayed.

Substitute Jacinto Dala scored two goals as Al Wakrah defeated Umm Salal 3-2 in the Qatar Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium Friday. Despite The Blue Wave’s series of relentless attacks, they met a formidable wall of defence in Umm Salal, which they could not break down until the 54th minute when Hamdy Fathy found the net.Umm Salal got the equaliser in the 63rd minute through Cristo Gonzalez. Dala, who came in the 74th minute, restored Al Wakrah’s lead from the edge of the box in the 78th minute. Ironically, Dala turned from a hero to a villain nine minutes later when he mistakenly nodded the ball into his own net from an Umm Salal set piece. The Angolan international, however, got a redemption in two minutes of added time as he scored the winner.Al Shahania were beaten 1-2 by Al Ahli in their enthralling match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Pelle van Amersfoort opened the scoring for Al Shahania from the spot in the 14th minute after Al Ahli’s Driss Fettouhi fouled Mohammed Sayyar inside the box. The Dutchman made no mistake in converting with a right-footed shot, once the controversy that ensued following the penalty decision was resolved after a lengthy VAR check.The lone goal separated the two sides going into the half-time break. Parity was restored for Al Ahli in the 54th minute through Suhaib Gannan, who perfectly turned in a cross from Erik Exposito with ease. Twelve minutes later, Michel Vlap registered his name on the scorers’ sheet as Al Ahli took the lead, with the goal eventually proving to be the match winner.

Two of Qatar’s football giants will collide when Al Sadd host Al Duhail in the Qatar Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Thursday. The clash, which kicks off at 8pm, promises to be one of the early season highlights, pitting two sides that have dominated the domestic scene over the past decade.Both teams enter the fixture level on seven points, separated only by goal difference. Al Duhail sit sixth with two wins, two losses and a draw, while Al Sadd are just behind in seventh after recording the same results but with fewer goals scored. With the season still in its early stages, neither side can afford to lose ground in the title race, making the encounter one with potentially significant repercussions.While the league table shows little between them, recent form tells a different story. Duhail arrive brimming with confidence after back-to-back victories, including a 4-2 win over Umm Salal and a statement 8-1 demolition of Al Arabi. These results have re-energised Djamel Belmadi’s side after a patchy start, sending a message to rivals that Duhail remain serious contenders. Al Sadd, by contrast, have stumbled in their last two outings, losing to Al Shahania before being held to a draw by Al Wakrah. Felix Sanchez’s men have shown flashes of their attacking quality but have struggled to convert dominance into victories.Sanchez on Wednesday emphasised the need for his players to stay composed under pressure. “We have a very competitive match. We finished last season as the top two teams in the league, so we expect it to be a tough match,” he said. “Unfortunately, we were not able to score many points in the last two matches, so we will try to bounce back. We know the situation is not easy, but the players are accustomed to dealing with the pressure of competition and we must achieve the desired results.”Al Sadd’s veteran defender Boualem Khoukhi underlined the importance of the contest, describing it as “worth six points.”He said: “Every player will give 100 per cent to win. I know how sad our fans are with the team’s current results and we will do everything in our capacity to make them happy. The match will be at our home stadium and the presence of fans will provide us with great motivation, especially before our match against Sharjah of the UAE in the AFC Champions League Elite.”Duhail coach Belmadi, on the other hand, was quick to highlight the historical weight of the rivalry. “The match against Al Sadd is always a top-of-the-range affair, regardless of the circumstances and results of the two teams,” he said. “If we look back over the past 15 years, we will find that the competition has always been confined to the two teams, and this confirms to everyone the value of this match. It will be a very significant encounter.”The Algerian added: “Each match has its own unique nature and the accompanying events vary from one match to the next. We achieved a big win against Al Arabi in our last match, while Al Sadd settled for a draw in the same round. This does not mean much and does not reflect the outcome of the next match. The match against Al Sadd always has its own unique characteristics, and we will try to put in a strong performance against a strong competitor. We will strive to advance in the league competition, given our slight drop in the standings.”Duhail defender Sultan al-Breik echoed his coach’s sentiments: “We will try to maintain the team’s upward trend after we managed to secure six points from two consecutive victories. We will strive to achieve the match objective, which is to win with the three points.”Over the past decade, meetings between Al Sadd and Al Duhail have rarely disappointed. From title-deciding encounters to dramatic goal-fests, the rivalry has consistently delivered drama and intensity. Thursday's fixture carries all the hallmarks of another classic: two teams evenly matched on points, both with something to prove.Rayyan face GharafaIn the other match Thursday, Al Rayyan will host Al Gharafa at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Both teams are currently tied on 10 points, having won three matches, drawn one and lost one. Al Rayyan hold the advantage in goal difference and occupy the third position. Al Gharafa come into the match after a 0-0 draw against leaders Al Shamal. On the other hand, Al Rayyan secured a convincing 3-0 win over Al Ahli.

Qatar SC scored a hard fought 1-0 win over Al Shahania in the fifth round of Qatar Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium Sunday to take the second spot in the standings with 13 points, and behind Al Shamal on goal difference.Al Rayyan beat Al Ahli 3-0 at the Al Thumama Stadium to move third in the table with 10 points, ahead of Al Gharafa on goal difference.At the Al Bayt Stadium Umm Salal prevailed 2-1 over Al Sailiya. Umm Salal are now 6th in standings with 8 points while bottom-placed Sailiya are yet to open their account.Brazilian forward Joao Pedro made the winning strike for Qatar SC in the 54th minute as he picked on an Eisa Palangi assist to dribble past defenders before essaying a kick from inside the top of the box into the far right corner of the net.Al Shahania, who were majorly confined to defence, made some big efforts to attack in the second half including a Daouda Soliman’s attempt to go over an advancing Qatar SC goalkeeper Ali Nader Mahmoud but in vain.Al Shahania are on four points following their third loss while Qatar SC have four wins and a draw in their unbeaten run so far.The Lions make a roarAl Rayyan handed Al Ahli a 0-3 defeat taking lead in the 29th minute through Rodrigo Machado, who finished off a pass from Wesley Ribeiro with a left-footed shot from very close range. The goal was, however, contested for an offside ruling against Aleksandar Mitrovic in its buildup, but the final decision, after a lengthy VAR check, ensured that it stood to the consternation of the Al Ahli bench and stand.Mitrovic made it two for the Lions just before the half-time break, nodding home the rebound of Rodrigo's attempt that bounced off the crossbar, as the coach Artur Jorge's men went into the dugout with a comfortable lead. While Al Ahli, who are enduring one of their worst starts to the season with only one win so far, tried to cut the deficit with some impressive play after their opponents' second goal.Luck was, however, not on their side, as Al Rayyan got their third in the 86th minute with Róger Guedes, assisted by Mohamed Surag, hammering home a right-footed shot from the left side of the box following a fast break to ensure an emphatic victory for the visiting team, who recorded their third win of the season.Umm Salal find winning waysUmm Salal bounced back to winning ways with a 2-1 defeat of Al Sailiya. The match appeared evenly balanced after the hour mark when Al Sailiya’s Omar Yahya conceded a penalty following a seemingly rash challenge on Umm Salal’s Abdulrahman Al Rashidi. The decision, which was heavily contested by Al Sailiya, eventually stood after a VAR check and the resultant spot kick was cleverly converted by Oussama Tannane in the 33rd minute. Umm Salal continued to be the better side on resumption of proceedings in the second half, offering waves of relentless attacks while pegging the visitors to their own half of the field for most of the encounter.Their efforts eventually paid off as they doubled their lead in the 80th minute, with Cristo Gonzalez making a brilliant overlapping run before squaring the ball to Rami Suhail to slide into an almost empty net.A consolation goal from Khalid Ali in one minute of added time ended up doing little to help Al Sailiya’s cause as Umm Salal ended up with the maximum points in their kitty.