Al Sadd's players take part in a practice session ahead of their QSL game against Al Arabi.
DOHA: After a shock defeat to Al Wakrah, defending champions Al Sadd will be hoping to bounce back as they take on Al Arabi today in a deferred match from Week 5 of the QNB Stars League (QSL).
The match, which was deferred due to Al Sadd’s AFC Champions League commitment, will kick off at 18:45.
Xavi-coached Al Sadd have one more match in hand, against Al Khor from Week 7, also deferred owing to the same reason. It will be played on January 21 before the QSL’s Week 13 action begins on January 23.
In between, the 2020 Qatar Cup will be held, with semi-finals on January 10 and 11, and final on January 17. Al Arabi and Al Sadd go into the match against contrasting backdrop.
In Week 12 action last weekend, Al Arabi defeated Al Ahli 3-0, while Al Sadd suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of promoted side Al Wakrah.
Al Arabi moved up from sixth to fourth position with their sixth victory. The Dream Team have the same number of points (18) as Al Sadd, but are placed fourth on better goal difference (+9 as against Al Sadd’s +8). Al Arabi drew three matches and lost as many. Al Sadd slipped one place to fifth following the defeat.
Al Arabi boast of Tunisian striker Hamdi Harbaoui, Mohammed Salah El Neel, Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson, who has returned from an injury, and German Pierre-Michelle Lassoga.
Al Sadd have the likes of Algerian ace Baghdad Boundejah, South Korean Nam Tae-Hee, Hassan Al Haydous, Akram Afif, Abdelkarim Hassan and Pedro.
