Al Shamal players during a training session.
DOHA: Buoyed by their historic victory over Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal, Al Shamal will look to carry their continental momentum into the Qatar Stars League when they take on defending champions Al Sadd in the most intriguing of today’s three matches in Week 8.
Al Shamal produced a memorable performance on Tuesday, stunning Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal 3-1 at Al Bayt Stadium to register their first-ever AFC Champions League Elite victory.
The challenge at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, however, will be different against an Al Sadd side eager to reclaim the top spot. Prats acknowledged the quality of the opposition but said his team would approach the contest with the same winning mentality they showed against Al Hilal.
“We are facing the best team of the last two seasons, which underscores the difficulty of this match. However, we know Al Sadd well, including all their strengths, and we hope to be fully prepared for the challenge.
“We will give our absolute best to secure the best possible result. We aim to put in a strong performance and approach the game with the same winning mentality we demonstrated in our recent match against Al Hilal,” said the Al Shamal coach.
Al Shamal are currently sixth with nine points and will be looking to climb the league standings and move closer to the top four. Al Sadd, meanwhile, are second with 15 points, level with Al Duhail and two behind leaders Al Rayyan.
They will be keen to maintain pressure on the leaders and regain the top position with another league victory. Razvan Lucescu’s side return to domestic action after earning their first point in the AFC Champions League Elite with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al Qadsiah in Dammam on Monday.
With a demanding schedule continuing, Lucescu stressed the importance of preparation and concentration as his team targets all three points against Al Shamal.
“Thorough preparation, especially given the congested fixture schedule, is needed to ensure the team performs at its best, secures a win and claims all three points.
“The current phase demands full readiness and intense focus from every player, given the high level of competition and the challenging nature of matches. Our objective is to deliver a strong performance and achieve the desired result against Al Shamal,” said Lucescu.
Al Gharafa set for Qatar SC clash Al Gharafa will look to get their campaign back on track when they host Qatar SC at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, with both sides seeking valuable points to improve their positions.
Al Gharafa are coming off a 2-2 draw against Al Ahli and will be eager to return to winning ways, with home advantage offering an opportunity to do so. Qatar SC, meanwhile, head into the contest with renewed confidence after recording their first league victory of the season, beating Al Shamal 3-2 in the previous round.
The teams are level on six points, with Al Gharafa occupying 10th place and Qatar SC 11th, making the match important for both sides as they look to move up the standings.
Al Shahania, Al Ahli eye valuable points Al Shahania and Al Ahli will open today’s action at Al Khor Stadium, with both sides looking to strengthen their mid-table positions. Al Ahli are seventh with eight points, one ahead of Al Shahania, who occupy eighth place with seven points.
The narrow gap between the teams adds significance to the contest, with Al Shahania aiming to move ahead of their opponents while Al Ahli will be keen to extend their advantage and consolidate their position.
