Title contenders Al Duhail and defending champions Al Sadd both won their respective Qatar Stars League (QSL) games on Saturday in style to ignite a tight race to finish in the 2024-25 edition of Qatar’s top flight domestic football championship.
While Al Duhail beat Al Gharafa 2-0, Al Sadd blanked Al Wakrah 3-0 to garner three more match points each. That took Al Duhail’s tally to 44 points while Al Sadd reached 43 points. Now, with only three more matches remaining in the 12-team, 22-week league championship, the one-point margin as slender as it may seem, could also be quite difficult for Al Sadd to overcome unless Al Duhail slip down the rung somewhere along the way.
The Wolves have won the league title a record 17 times since the tournament’s inception in 1963-64 while Red Knights have held on to the famous Falcon Shield 8 times. Both Al Sadd and Al Duhail are more than eager to lay their hands on the shield yet again, and are clearly the only two sides involved in the dash to the top.
It’s a fascinating contest where both teams have to wage their own battles while keeping an eye on the other’s progress. Al Duhail now have their games against Al Shamal (April 4), Al Arabi (April 11), and Al Khor (April 18). Al Sadd play Al Rayyan (April 4), Al Khor (April 11), and Al Ahli in their final tie on April 18.
Al Sadd have won their last six successive games including one against Al Duhail 2-0 whereas for the latter it was the only recent loss in their otherwise good winning streak.
Overall, both Al Duhail and Al Sadd have won 14 games each. But while Al Duhail have lost only three matches, Al Sadd suffered reversals in four games. Al Duhail had two drawn games to Al Sadd’s one.
All that however would not count for much now with the next three matches holding the key to being eventual champions of the season.
Form and fitness will be key for the domestic giants with no margin for error in the crucial and final stage of the league. Al Sadd’s mercurial star Akram Afif, who scored twice from the spot against Al Wakrah in their last match, leads the goal-scoring for his side. The skipper has so far scored 15 goals – the same as that of his teammate Spaniard Rafa Mujica. The Wolves would hope for these two to keep firing on all cylinders in the remaining matches.
For Al Duhail, Kenyan striker Michael Olunga leads the scoring chart with a tally of 11 goals, followed by Almoez Ali with 8 goals so far. Al Duhail just like their title rivals have a strong attacking force and would also aim to keep up their winning run.
The overall goal-scoring chart is led by Baghdad Bounedjah of Al Shamal with 17 goals with Al Rayyan’s Roger Guedes being the next best with 16.
Al Sadd’s coach Felix Sanchez is well aware of the battles ahead. Prior to the Al Wakrah clash, he had said: “We must focus on ourselves and strive to earn the three points as this is the only option if we want to reach the top of the league.”
Al Duhail’s coach Christophe Galtier was more sceptical and said: “I am not focused on the remaining matches. We are currently focused on the match against Al Gharafa. We are preparing for this match with clear objectives, and that is the most important thing at the moment.”
But Galtier surely knows that with Al Sadd on their heels, Al Duhail have to ensure that they now have to stay ahead at all times.
The other race is for teams to finish in the top four. Al Arabi coach Pablo Amo, while putting things into perspective, had said: “We are now at an important stage of the season and are fully aware that points become more important as the rounds progress, so we must maintain our high focus and give our best in every match. There is no room for mistakes or relaxation, because any point could significantly impact our position in the standings.”
Al Arabi were held to a goalless draw by Qatar SC, while Al Ahli, who beat Al Rayyan 1-0, stayed fourth in the standings with 32 points. Al Gharafa are in third place with 37 points. Al Rayyan are fifth with 27 points.
It’s an exciting fight to the finish line and the fans would feast on each and every remaining match of the Ooredoo Stars League. And, for the die-hard Al Duhail and Al Sadd fans there would be many heart-stopping moments if not for the heartbreak.
The race is well and truly on!