Al Wakrah players during a training session yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Al Wakrah will take on bottom-placed Al Markhiya eyeing full points as the Expo Stars League (ESL) Week 15 kicks off today.
Al Wakrah, currently placed second in the ESL points table, take on Al Markhiya at the Al Janoub Stadium, with the kick-off set for 8pm.
Given Al Wakrah’s impressive performances throughout the season, the Blue Waves should live up to expectations as they continue to reign at the top portion of the table, with 28 points, posing a huge threat to leaders Al Sadd who are just four points away.
Al Markhiya, on the other hand, are at the bottom with only four points to their credit.
Al Wakrah played out a goalless draw with Al Sadd in the last round, while Al Markhiya lost 0-2 to Muaither in what was their 11th loss of the season.
“Our competitors are occupying the last place in the league table and this is not good for them, but it is a motivation to give their utmost, especially since they are a strong team and good technically and physically. Therefore, we must be very careful and make every effort to overcome this difficult obstacle,” Al Wakrah coach Jose Murcia said during the pre-match press conference.
“After the last match, we went through the recovery process for the players who played against Al Sadd and we quickly started preparations for the Al Markhiya match due to time constraints. Our only concern now is the three points,” Murcia said.
“Al Wakrah are going through a good period currently and we must maintain our focus in order to remain in the competition for the top spot, especially since the difference between us and Al Sadd, the leaders, is four points. We will first try to maintain our second position and then compete with Al Sadd for first place,” Murcia told reporters.
Meanwhile, Al Markhiya, under Algerian coach Madjid Bougherra, will heavily rely on their star players Jacinto Dala and Mohamed Benyettou to counter Al Wakrah defense power in search of a vital win.
“Al Wakrah are strong competitors, but the match is important for us, like all league matches,” Bougherra said.
“I know that the Al Wakrah team is having a very good season, and last season it finished among the top four in the league, and it is a team with very good capabilities, and they have confidence and are fighting for the title, but we need to work.”
“In football, when you are in a lower position, you always strive to win in order to gain more confidence. This is our goal in the match in which we hope to provide the best,” Bougherra said.
In other fixtures today, Al Shamal will meet Muaither at Al Bayt Stadium (18:00), while Al Ahli face Umm Salal at Al Thumama Stadium (20:00).
