Al Rayyan players taking part in a practise session ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 20 match against Al Sailiya, which will be played at Al Janoub Stadium today.
Former champions Al Rayyan are four points behind table-toppers Al Duhail with just three rounds remaining in the QNB Stars League (QSL) but coach Diego Aguirre is keeping his fingers crossed, saying his team still stands a chance of winning the coveted title.
The Lions will take on sixth-placed Al Sailiya in first Week 20 match at Al Janoub Stadium today, hoping to claim all three points from the tie. With Al Duhail (46 points) regaining winning form in the previous round with a victory over Al Gharafa, the task appears difficult for Al Rayyan to top the league but Aguirre is not ruling his team out of contention.
“Our chance still exists but first we will have to win all the remaining matches,” Aguirre told a press conference ahead of game against Al Sailiya.
“The task is challenging but in football everything is possible. We can win the league by earning all the remaining nine points. But first we need to give our best effort and win these three matches. This is what is important for us at this stage,” he added.
Al Sailiya - coached by Tunisian Sami Trabelsi – retained their sixth position despite being held 2-2 by bottom-placed Al Shahania in the last round. Al Rayyan defeated Al Sailiya 2-0 in the first leg of this season but Aguirre said the past result will not count in today’s tie.
“Al Sailiya are tough opponents and we will have to fight hard to claim winning points against them. They have good players and a very good coach which makes this game very difficult,” said.
Al Rayyan dropped two crucial points last week after being held to a goalless draw by traditional rivals Al Arabi, and defender Hamid Ismail said his team was confident of getting back to winning ways, saying Al Rayyan’s focus is now on the Al Sailiya game in which they will go all out for a win.
“Al Arabi draw reduced our chance but the opportunity is still there and we are hopeful. The match against Al Sailiya is crucial as a victory in this game will keep our chances open,” said Ismail before adding that the ‘Match of the Week’ between Al Duhail and Al Sadd on Saturday can also play a key role in determining Al Rayyan’s fate.
Meanwhile, today’s second match will see Al Wakrah facing Al Arabi at the Al Sadd Stadium.
Heimir Hallgrimsson-coached Al Arabi are fifth with 25 points while Al Wakrah, coached by Marquez Lopez, are seventh with 21 points.
“Al Wakrah is one of the best tactical teams in the league, so we have to focus in the match,” said Hallgrimsson.
Lopez said: “We are working towards winning the match, like other games, but it will be difficult. The fact is that I am happy with my team because we are playing well of late and creating many scoring opportunities in front of the opponents’ goal.”
