Al Rayyan players during a training session.
Doha: The 2021-2022 QNB Stars League (QSL) title may have decided but the hype of the Qatar Clasico remains.
Champions Al Sadd and Al Rayyan, having contrasting fortunes this season, will face off in their rescheduled match, promising exciting action at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, today.
Newly-crowned QSL champions Al Sadd would be keen to finish off the tournament unbeaten, while Al Rayyan would be eager to get a positive result amid their dismal run this season and in order to improve their position in the standings, with one round of action remaining.
The match was postponed at the request of Al Sadd after a number of their players were infected with the coronavirus.
Al Sadd, coached by Spaniard Javi Gracia, are topping the table with 56 points while Al Rayyan are placed 10th with 21 points.
Gracia said the aim for his side will be to continue the winning run.
“After we played the Amir Cup quarter-final, we seek to present the same level in the league championship. We are the champions and were crowned, but we strive to win all matches,” Al Sadd coach said, while referring to his team’s 4-0 win in the Amir Cup quarter-final against Al Ahli.
“Facing Al Rayyan will be difficult, it is a popular match, and certainly our goal will be victory and thus complete the team’s march without losing,” he added.
“The pressure of matches in the current period represents a great challenge for the team. For us, all matches are important. A strong game awaits us in the Amir Cup semi-final, but we must play two matches in the league first and we will always try to choose the best players for each match,” said Gracia.
Al Sadd's Baghdad Bounedjah in action during a training session.
Al Sadd player Mohammed Waad said: “Al Sadd this season are an integrated team capable of winning and competing for all championships. Our goal is to reduce errors and increase focus in order to bag full points.”
“Facing Al Rayyan is always difficult and we are fully prepared for the match. The team is in great harmony. Our focus is currently on facing Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah in order to finish the league championship well,” he added.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan coach Nicolas Cordova said a strong performance against the champions was important for his team after a loss to Al Wakrah in Amir Cup quarter-final.
“The match is very important especially since it is against this season’s league champions, who are going through a long period without losing. Our team will try to do our best in the game,” said Cordova.
“Certainly, it is a sad exit (from the Amir Cup) and the team gave off its best and great efforts, but lost on penalties. It must be noted that the team is having a bad season and the important thing is that we succeeded in making the team compete with major teams and providing better displays,” said Cordova.
Al Rayyan player Abdulrahman Al Korbi said: “The Al Sadd match is tough, given that our team has gone through a bad season so far. But our players will take the field to win, like in any other match.”
“The season is not over. Of course, the league and Amir Cup are the most important, but unfortunately we did not do what was required. We have the Ooredoo Cup and AFC Champions League. We will give off our best to end our bad season in the best way,” he added.
The match will kick off at 6:15pm.
