Need to keep winning to stay in title race, says Sadd coach

Defending champions Al Sadd will aim to extend their winning run when they take on newly-promoted Al Shahania in the Qatar Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium today. Al Sadd, currently sitting in fifth place, have won three of their six matches so far, collecting nine points. Their most recent victory was an impressive 4-2 triumph over Al Gharafa before the international break.
However, consistency remains a priority for head coach Felix Sanchez. “We need to keep winning to stay in the title race,” Sanchez said. “It’s always challenging after the break, as players return from national duties. But we are confident in our ability to deliver a good performance.”
The Wolves will be without defender Pedro Miguel, who underwent surgery on a hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined for three months. However, key players like Akram Afif, Rafa Mujica, and Boualem Khoukhi are available and will be essential to Al Sadd’s hopes of picking up three points. Sanchez also hinted at the importance of squad rotation, with matches coming thick and fast. “After this game, we have a crucial AFC Champions League match, so we need to manage things carefully while maintaining momentum,” he added.
On the other hand, Al Shahania enter the game with renewed confidence following their surprise 2-1 win over Al Duhail in the previous round. That victory was their first of the season, bringing their points tally to five, placing them 10th in the standings. Head coach Alvaro Mejia emphasized that his side is improving with every game. “Al Sadd are one of the best teams in Qatar, but we are ready. The team is improving in level from one match to another, and is ready for the Al Sadd match,” Mejia said.
They will look to Dutch striker Pelle van Amersfoort, who was instrumental in their win against Al Duhail, scoring twice. Other key players for Al Shahania include goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy, Lotfi Majder, and Alhassan Koroma. Mejia noted the importance of monitoring Koroma’s fitness after his international duty with Sierra Leone. “We’ll assess his physical condition before the match, but we are prepared to field the best lineup,” Mejia said.
With both teams in need of points — Sadd aiming to close the gap on the league leaders and Shahania fighting to move up the table — the tactical battle between Sanchez and Mejia promises to be intriguing. Al Shahania player Francesco Antonucci said, “Al Sadd are a strong team and our team is ready for this difficult match in the Ooredoo Stars League. We played against Al Duhail in the previous round of the league and were very strong opponents and succeeded in achieving victory. The players took advantage of the break to prepare themselves for this important match. We will be up to the responsibility against Al Sadd and we are a team coming from the second division and everyone is working hard, and we in Al Shahania are one family and will be ready for Al Sadd.”
At the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, hosts Al Gharafa will take on. Umm Salal currently occupy fourth place in the standings with a tally of 10 points, having won three matches and drawn one while losing two.
The Orange Fortress are only five points away from leaders Al Duhail and are looking forward to continuing their brilliance this season. Al Gharafa are in search of a third victory in the league this season as they aim to move into the top four.
The Cheetahs are currently in sixth place with eight points gained from two wins and as many draws. They have also suffered two losses.
Umm Salal coach Patrice Carteron said: “There is continuous improvement in the league, which makes the match against Al Gharafa difficult, but our players are determined to achieve the best result in this encounter. “I am very happy with the team’s performance, because we are refreshed and ready to compete again, and we hope to continue in this manner.”
Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins said: “We spent about three weeks in the break, it was important for some players to play competitive matches. It was good to recover some injured players such as Aron and Muntari, and there are some players who will arrive a day before the match.”
Meanwhile, Al Khor and Al Rayyan will at the Al Khor Stadium today in an early 5:30pm kick off. Al Khor are currently bottom-placed with three points from three draws and as many losses, being the only team in the league which has not won a game so far. Al Rayyan are ninth in the rankings with six points – gained from two wins. They have also suffered four losses.
Both Al Khor and Al Rayyan are also coming losses in their previous fixtures. Al Khor had lost 1-3 to Al Wakrah, while Al Rayyan went down 1-2 to Al Arabi.