Al Duhail will be hoping to recover from the brutal AFC Champions League exit when they take on Al Arabi for the top spot in the QNB Stars League standings today. Only one point separates the two teams with Al Duhail leading the pack with 32 points, despite having played one game less (13) than Al Arabi. Al Duhail had beaten Al Arabi 3-0 in the first leg of the season, but the Red Knights are coming off from a gruesome 0-7 loss in the hands of Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League Semi-final (West) on Sunday.
Al Arabi coach Younes Ali said the match against the points leaders will not be easy. “Al Duhail are a team with great strength and distinguished players, and the game will be difficult for the two teams,” Ali said during a pre-match press conference, yesterday.
“The team is moving at a good pace in the league and we always seek to build on the last victory in order to continue the positive results, and to win the next match. Al Duhail are coming after a loss in the AFC Champions League and they will fight for victory, so it will be a strong match between the two teams, and I hope to win to continue the positive results.
“We know the importance of (Yousef) Msakni and his absence will certainly be influential, but on the other hand, the rest of the players provide a distinguished performance and are able to compensate for his absence in the Al Duhail match,” said Younes.
Al Arabi player Ahmed Suhail said, “We must prepare well for the match in order to win. Al Duhail are returning from the AFC Champions League and want compensation, and we seek to return to the competition for the league title, and it will be a strong match. Our goal is to win to make Al Arabi fans happy.”
Ali’s opposite number, coach Hernan Crespo knows the importance of the match and noted that a win will be like gaining six points. “We fully know the importance of this match, but it is more important for Al Arabi, who will strive hard. Tomorrow’s match can be considered a six-point match, because winning it means increasing our balance by 3 points and deducting 3 points from Al Arab. I will speak with the team doctor to find out the situation of the players. We are ready for this game.”
Both teams have registered 10 victories each, the most in the 12-team League. The Red Knights will not want to drop any point in their bid to regain the league shield. They have the distinction of having scored the most number of goals (27) and have the best goal difference (+17). Al Arabi, under Younes Ali, had defeated Al Markhiya 2-0 in Week 15 and will be keen to regain the top position in the table.
In other matches today, Al Rayyan face Umm Salal at Al Sadd Stadium while Al Shamal take on Qatar SC at Al Duhail Stadium.
Al Rayyan are placed ninth in the standings with 11 points from 13 matches, ahead of Al Shamal on goal difference. The Lions, coached by Chilean Nicholas Cordova, have won three matches, drawn two and lost eight games.
Umm Salal are at the bottom of the table with nine points from 14 matches, behind Al Sailiya on goal difference.
The Orange Fortress, under Moroccan Talal El Karkouri, have only one victory to their credit while they drew six matches and lost seven games.
Al Duhail players train ahead of their QNB Stars League game against Al Arabi.
