Doha: After a welcome victory at the 50th Amir Cup last week, Al Rayyan will be hoping to return to winning ways at the QNB Stars League (QSL) as they meet Al Arabi in their Round 19 clash at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, today.
In a first match under new coach Nicolas Cordova, Al Rayyan edged Umm Salal 1-0 in Round of 16 clash following James Rodriguez’s stoppage time winner, to enter the quarter-finals of the Amir Cup.
But, The Lions are struggling in the QSL with ninth position on the table from 18 points from 17 matches.
On the other hand, fifth-placed Al Arabi are having a fine season as they are gunning for a top-four finish, with 26 points from 18 matches.
“The Al Arabi match will be very strong and the most important thing for us at Al Rayyan is to focus on our team and our capabilities. To be highly competitive, we must be at the highest level,” Cordova said ahead of the match.
“After our victory against Umm Salal (in the Amir Cup Round of 16), the morale became high, but the Al Arabi match in the league is very different from the cup match,” he added.
Al Arabi defeated Al Rayyan 2-1 in the first leg but coach Younes Ali warned they will face a different side today.
“We are well aware that our game against Al Rayyan will be difficult and different from the first leg. Al Rayyan have been providing good levels in the recent period, and for these reasons we will have to prepare ourselves in the best possible way for the match,” he said.
“All matches represent three points for us, regardless of the competitors’ reputation and ranking. Saturday’s match against Al Rayyan is one of the most important matches for the team at this time in the league. It is necessary to guide our players to the opponents’ strengths and skills, and exploit their weaknesses. We must certainly show our strength to everyone,” Ali added.
The other match today will pit sixth-placed Umm Salal and Al Sailiya, who are at the bottom of the table, at the Thani Bin Jasim Stadium.
