Al Duhail's Bassam Al Rawi (left) in action with a team-mate during a training session.
Doha: Title contenders Al Duhail will host Al Gharafa today looking for an instant top spot as the QNB Stars League (QSL) resumes following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 break.
The Red Knights will return to action as third-placed side with 14 points from the first seven rounds, trailing leaders Al Arabi by two points.
A victory at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium will give the Hernan Crespo-coached side one point lead over the Dream Team, who will return to action against Al Ahli tomorrow.
With the title race wide open, QSL is expected to see tough competition among the teams after the break as defending champions Al Sadd – ranked ninth with 7 points – and bottom-placed Al Rayyan are hoping for a turnaround after a shaky start to the season.
Crespo said he will field a full strength side with no plans of resting the players, who took part in the World Cup.
Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins (left) during press conferences yesterday ahead of their QSL match today. Pic: QSL
“I do not think about resting our international players who played in the World Cup as the team is having strong matches in the coming period,” Al Duhail coach told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
Al Duhail captain Almoez Ali, Ismail Muhammad, Bassam Al Rawi, Asim Madbo and Karim Boudiaf were part of Qatar squad that featured in the World Cup.
“There is no designated place for a specific player in the squad and everyone must do his best in training in order to take the field. Now is the time for the club and everyone must give off his best to earn place in the starting line-up,” Crespo added.
The coach added a number of young players were discovered during the break, who will help the team management “carry out a process of balancing between experienced and young players.”
Al Duhail coach Hernan Crespo during press conferences yesterday ahead of their QSL match today. Pic: Al Duhail SC
He expected a stiff battle from Al Gharafa, saying the team is ready for the action.
Meanwhile, Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria said: “We have been in a state of continuous training to improve the level of physical fitness as well as tactical exercises that brought everyone to the physical and technical condition. It will certainly help us in the upcoming matches,” he said.
Fourth in the standings with 12 points, Al Gharafa are under a new Portuguese coach Pedro Martins, who replaced Italian coach Andrea Stramaccioni during the break.
Martins said the Cheetahs will resume action with an eye on title.
“The team continues to prepare well for this difficult and important match, and it is waiting to show its strength, be a strong competitor and have the ability to control the match in order to win,” he said yesterday.
The former Olympiacos FC coach said today’s game will be crucial for his team’s campaign.
“Al Duhail are a great team with good players. I know them well because I have watched many of their matches, including the final of Amir Cup last season. The match is of great importance because Al Duhail are ahead of us by two points in the standings,” he said.
Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan said: “All players had prepared well for this match, which will mark the resumption of the league. We had played four friendly matches in order to prepare for the rest of the league and all players are ready. God-willing, we will do our best.”
The match will kick off 4:15pm.
