Al Sadd face Al Duhail in a postponed match from Week 10 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Sadd Stadium on Sunday.
Reigning champions Al Sadd are in third place with 28 points from 15 matches (nine victories, one draw and five defeats). The Wolves have a goal difference of +11 (29 goals for and 18 against).
Al Duhail are leading the standings with 35 points from 14 matches (11 victories, two draws and one defeat). The Red Knights have a goal difference of +19 (30 goals for and 11 against).
Al Duhail played one match less as their Week 15 fixture against Al Rayyan was postponed due to both teams' Round of 16 encounter in the AFC Champions League 2022.
Al Sadd, coached by Juan Manuel Lillo (Juanma), boast of the likes of Pedro Miguel and Tareq Salman in defence, Brazilian Guillerme Torres and South Korean Jung Woo-Young in midfield and Santi Cazorla, Akram Afif and Baghdad Bounedjah in attack. Rodrigo Tabata and Mohammed Waad may be absent due to injury.
Al Duhail, under Argentinian coach Hernan Crespo, have players such as Michael Olunga, Almoez Ali, Bassam Al Rawi, Ismail Mohammed and Nam Tae-Hee.
Al Sadd had beaten Al Sailiya 4-0 and Al Duhail defeated Al Arabi 3-1 in the last round of QNB Stars League (Week 8 postponed match).
Al Sadd defeated Al Markhiya 4-0 and Al Duhail beat Al Kharaitiyat 1-0 in the Round of 16 of Amir Cup to reach the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Al Gharafa face Al Arabi in a postponed match from Week 10 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Monday.
Both teams had dropped points in the last round (Week 16), Al Arabi losing 1-3 to Al Duhail and Al Gharafa drawing 1-1 with Al Ahli.
Al Gharafa and Al Arabi will strive to be back on the winning path and look for full points.
Al Gharafa are fifth in the standings with 23 points, on goal difference from Al Wakrah (fourth) and Qatar SC (sixth) as all three teams have the same number of points.
On the other hand, Al Arabi, who recently recorded a 3-0 win over Al Shamal in the Round of 16 of Amir Cup and qualified for the quarterfinals, occupy the second place in the league table with 31 points, four points behind Al Duhail and three points ahead of reigning champions and third-placed Al Sadd.
Therefore, the match is important for Al Arabi to continue to be title contenders.
Both sides have a number of players capable of making a difference.
Al Gharafa, under Portuguese coach Pedro Martins, have the likes of Homam Al Ameen, Ahmed Alaaeldin, Mehdi Tahrat, Ishak Belfodil, Moayad Hassan, Farid Boulaya and Yacine Brahimi.
On the other hand, Al Arabi may get back the services of Yousef Msakni who missed their last match against Al Duhail due to suspension and that will strengthen them especially in the absence of Syrian striker Omar Al Somah, who was sent off in the game against Al Duhail. Coach Younes Ali will definitely be looking to compensate for Al Somah's absence.
