Javi Gracia
Doha: Having resumed their QNB Stars League title charge with a 5-1 rout of Al Shamal last week, Al Sadd will hope to keep the momentum going when they take on Al Arabi Stadium today.
The Wolves are in their own race for the title. The defending champions are unbeaten in the league and enjoy a one-point lead over Al Duhail, despite playing three games less than their closest rivals. Their matches against Al Wakrah, Qatar SC and Al Rayyan were postponed due to coronavirus.
While Duhail are struggling with inconsistency this season, Sadd are capable of retaining the title with many matches to spare.
Today’s high-profile Qatar Derby against fifth-placed Al Arabi will give Sadd a proper test, with players still settling into rhythm after a long break due to coronavirus. Sadd will miss Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah and Ghanaian Andre Ayew, while Al Arabi will also be without Tunisian Yousef Msakni and Gabonese Aaron Boupendza, all doing country duty at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Al Sadd coach Javi Gracia said he was pleased with his team’s performance against Shamal and feels his team is ready for Al Arabi. “We have another match in a short time, I think all the players are ready to compete again. I know we are playing against a very good team, which is Al Arabi. The matches between the two teams are always different and special, so we are looking forward to competing again in order to win and collect three important points,” the Spaniard said yesterday.
“I am very happy with the match we played against Al Shamal. I am really happy because we did many things well. We scored five goals and it is true that we conceded a goal by mistake, but I am happy with the performance of Mustafa Tariq, the young player who scored the first goal in his career. We did a lot of things differently very well,” added Gracia.
Al Arabi, who lost 1-2 to Qatar SC last week 15, slipped from fourth to fifth position in the table. The Dream Team coach Younes Ali said ‘the match is difficult, but there is nothing impossible’
“The Al Sadd match is always difficult and it is a good team that presents a distinguished performance. The match is difficult, but there is nothing impossible. We are working intensively to raise the level and improve all aspects of performance, and I believe we are on the right path. We are still in the competition for the top four, and we gave a lot and worked hard and we will fight till the last to achieve our goal,” said Younes.
Meanwhile, Al Duhail will be eyeing revenge against Al Wakrah today when the two teams meet at Grand Hamad Stadium.
The Blue Warriors had stunned Duhail 4-1 in October, with the Red Knights now keen for a payback. Wakrah are also in good form, having jumped from fifth to third in the standings after their win over Al Ahli last week.
