Al Sadd captain Xavi Hernandez (left) fights for the ball possession during a Qatar Stars League match, against Al Rayyan in this April 2016 file picture.
The Qatar Stars League (QSL) action returns after a three-week hiatus with a match of the week when Al Sadd take on their local rivals Al Rayyan in a highly anticipated Qatar Clasico match-up.
The tie will hold extra significance for Al Sadd who are very much in the title hunt; only a victory will do for Jesaldo Ferriera’s side, whilst the former champions Al Rayyan can still maintain their faint hopes of retaining the QSL title with a victory over Sadd.
The pressure will be very much on Al Sadd as they look to overhaul league leaders Lekhwiya to pick up their first QSL falcon shield since the 2012/2013 season.
The Wolves will be aiming to put behind their frustrating 0-0 draw against Umm Salal lout of their mind, which gave their title rivals the chance to overtake them in the QSL standings.
A host of key players in the Al Sadd set-up have been called up for the Qatar National team, and head coach Ferriera will be hoping that none of them suffer any nasty injuries which could put them in doubt for the Clasico.
The likes of Ibrahim Majid, Ali Asad and Hassan Haydoos have made the long away trip to Uzbekistan and will need to be fresh for the Sunday evening match.
Last time in the league, Al Sadd ran riot against their rivals picking up a 5-0 win. Striker Bagdad Bounjah was the hero notching a hat-trick in the tie, and the Algerian international will have to be at his best again if Sadd are to register a repeat performance. More encouraging for coach Ferriera was that Bounjah was not called up to represent Algeria, meaning more time training at the club.
As for Al Rayyan, they will come into the Qatar Clasico in good spirits following comprehensive victories in the QSL and AFC Champions League. Last time out in the league, Rayyan eased past bottom of the table Al Wakrah with a 4-0 win. Talismanic captain Rodrigo Tabata delivered the goods again for the Lions, scoring a hat-trick for his side.
During the international break, Rayyan moved to secure the long term futures of two key attackers with both Sebastian Soria and Tabata signing contract extensions with the club. Michael Laudrup will be hoping that his two attacking stars come back from Uzbekistan at full fitness after representing the Qatar national team.
Al Rayyan are taking on the second deadliest attack in the QSL in the clasico, and will be looking to stop Bagdad Bounjah who is in the running for the Mansor Muftah award for the league’s top goal scorer. Centre back Nathan will be charged with looking after the Algerian attacker at set-pieces and if Bounjah is silenced then Al Rayyan have a great chance of beating their rivals.
Sunday evening’s match could have a significant say in the destination of the QSL falcon shield, and will certainly serve up some of the best football the QSL has to offer.
Meanwhile, four-time QSL champions Lekhwiya will be targeting the first of three victories to secure their fifth QSL falcon shield when they take on local rivals El Jaish in one of the stand out ties of round 24 of the QSL season.
Head coach Djamel Belmadi, the man who guided Lekhwiya to back-to-back title wins a few years ago, will be plotting carefully to dismantle El Jaish and put them a step close to the QSL title.
The Red Knights have been in scintillating form in the league this season, having only fallen to defeat on one occasion to Umm Salal. Since then Lekhwiya have picked up back to back wins against Al Sailya and Al Kharitiyat to keep their title push on track.
In terms of injuries, Lekhwiya will be without leading scorer Yuesef El Arabi who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.
