Al Duhail players celebrate after scoring a goal against Al Sadd during their QNB Stars League first leg match in this file photo.
Doha: The QNB Stars League match between Al Duhail and Al Sadd will be crucial as the winners will most likely become the ultimate champions this season.
Al Duhail are leading the table with 48 points, followed by Al Sadd on 46.
Al Duhail defeated Al Khor 4-0, while Al Sadd beat Al Ahli 5-0 last week.
Al Rayyan, third with 39 points, take on Al Gharafa who are placed sixth with 23 points.
Al Rayyan will be keen to extend their winning streak, having defeated Qatar SC 4-0, whereas Al Gharafa have the heartbreak of a 2-3 defeat at the hands of promoted side Al Markhiya to put behind.
Al Markhiya, nevertheless, are at the rock bottom on 12 points. It was The Oryxes’ only second victory in this season’s QNB Stars League. It was also their second match under the tutelage of Tunisian coach Adel Sellimi, who replaced Yousef Adam.
Al Ahli, despite losing to Al Sadd, are relatively safe in the top flight on 19 points when they take on Al Kharaitiyat, who remained in the danger zone after their 1-2 loss to Al Arabi, with 13 points.
Al Kharaitiyat only have 13 points, one more than Al Markhiya, and are 11th.
Al Sailiya (25 points) and Al Khor (15 points) are also coming off defeat. While Al Sailiya will be keen to get back into the top four, Al Khor still face relegation.
Qatar SC, on 18 points, have a tough task on hand when they are up against fourth-placed Umm Salal (27 points).
Al Arabi received some confidence boost with their third win and will look to build on that when they face the Al Markhiya challenge.
Meanwhile, when Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan clash against each other in Week 19 of the QNB Stars League tomorrow the sub plot will be the encounter between the coaches.
Both coaches Michael Laudrup of Al Rayyan) and Bulent Uygun of Al Gharafa) have proved their worth in the profession.
They have another thing in common. They both were great players even though Laudrup has had much more credentials as a forward having donned the jerseys of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Dane had also represented top Italian side Juventus and Dutch stalwarts Ajax Amsterdam besides playing for the Denmark national team umpteen times.
As a coach, Laudrup created waves in South Wales when he won the League Cup, the first major English trophy in Swansea’s 100-year history.
Bulent too had made it big at the club and country levels as an attacking midfielder. He had captained Fenerbahce, where he spent most of his club career, apart from playing for the Turkey national team 18 times.
They both had prior experience coaching in Qatar. Laudrup was at the helm of erstwhile Lekhwiya, while Bulent was in charge of Umm Salal.
Laudrup has been doing well with Al Rayyan as well. The Lions are third with 39 points. They have 12 victories under their belt. They have drawn three matches and lost as many. And both Laudrup and Bulent are extra busy with their AFC Champions League engagements too.
Under, Laudrup Al Rayyan have become a more offensive side. They have so far scored 46 goals, the third best in the QNB Stars League after Al Duhail (68) and Al Sadd (55).
Bulent replaced Frenchman Jean Fernandez before the start of QNB Stars League second phase and The Cheetahs have been making steady strides ever since. They are sixth with 23 points.
The Turk will also be looking to make up for their shock defeat to Al Markhiya last week, whereas Laudrup will be keen to ensure his wards stay motivated with yet another victory.
