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Tribune News Network
Doha
In what is a rescheduled match from Week 9 of QNB Stars League, the contest has now turned into a battle for supremacy and a fight to top the league table between defending champions Al Duhail and Al Sadd at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
The match couldn’t be played earlier as Al Duhail were away for their AFC Champions League semi-final against Persepolis in Iran.
Al Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul, however, was an assured self ahead of the keen clash on Monday saying, “There was not much time to prepare for this game against Al Sadd. It is an important game for both teams and the winners will have an edge in the race to the 2018-19 season QNB Stars League title.
“Our team has a few injury worries and we did not have many options in our last match against Qatar SC, which ended in a draw. I feel our players will rise to the occasion against Al Sadd and prove that we are the leaders not
by default.
“Both sides know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and the match has much at stake,” explained Maaloul.
Al Sadd coach Ferreira, striker Bounedjah named stars of Nov-Dec
Meanwhile Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira – who has been named as QNB Stars League’s best coach for the months of November and December along with their superstar striker Baghdad Bounedjah –said his team knows how to deal with the important match.
“Our players do not need any psychological preparation for this game. They know how important the match is and both teams have a great desire to win.
“The players have had regular training and there was no special training for this match. Everyone knows that the game pits the two best teams in Qatar. The difference between us is only one point and that makes the game difficult.
“All our matches against Al Duhail were exciting and full of goals, but unfortunately we were not happy with those matches because they beat us in many games.
“I do not agree that the recent results of Al Duhail were due to injuries. Why do you talk about injuries? The winners of this game may determine who will be the best.
“We are under more pressure than Al Duhail. They are the leaders and won the league title more than once. And regardless of injuries, they are in a better position.
“I wish our fans turn out in large numbers and we need their support,” said Ferreira.
Under Ferreira, Al Sadd have played five matches in the past months of the 2018-19 QNB Stars League’s season winning all of their Week 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 matches to collect the full quota of 15 points.
The Wolves’ victories have been against Umm Salal (5-1), Al Kharaitiyat (7-1), Al Arabi (3-0), Al Gharafa (8-1) and Al Shahania (4-1) in that order.
Ferreira’s men scored 27 goals while conceding just four, with 56 shots on target and 13 against it.
Bounedjah, meanwhile, scored 10 goals and made six assists in five matches (Weeks 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) during the term, playing crucial roles in the victories against Umm Salal (5-1), Al Kharaitiyat (7-1), Al Arabi (3-0), Al Gharafa (8-1) and Al Shahania (4-1)
in that order.
The two goals he scored against Al Shahania saw Bounedjah become the Qatar league’s all-time top scorer in a single-season as he took his personal tally to 28 goals.
The Algerian surpassed Brazilian striker Clemerson Soares’ record of 27 goals set in the 2007-08 season for
Al Gharafa.
Doha
In what is a rescheduled match from Week 9 of QNB Stars League, the contest has now turned into a battle for supremacy and a fight to top the league table between defending champions Al Duhail and Al Sadd at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
The match couldn’t be played earlier as Al Duhail were away for their AFC Champions League semi-final against Persepolis in Iran.
Al Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul, however, was an assured self ahead of the keen clash on Monday saying, “There was not much time to prepare for this game against Al Sadd. It is an important game for both teams and the winners will have an edge in the race to the 2018-19 season QNB Stars League title.
“Our team has a few injury worries and we did not have many options in our last match against Qatar SC, which ended in a draw. I feel our players will rise to the occasion against Al Sadd and prove that we are the leaders not
by default.
“Both sides know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and the match has much at stake,” explained Maaloul.
Al Sadd coach Ferreira, striker Bounedjah named stars of Nov-Dec
Meanwhile Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira – who has been named as QNB Stars League’s best coach for the months of November and December along with their superstar striker Baghdad Bounedjah –said his team knows how to deal with the important match.
“Our players do not need any psychological preparation for this game. They know how important the match is and both teams have a great desire to win.
“The players have had regular training and there was no special training for this match. Everyone knows that the game pits the two best teams in Qatar. The difference between us is only one point and that makes the game difficult.
“All our matches against Al Duhail were exciting and full of goals, but unfortunately we were not happy with those matches because they beat us in many games.
“I do not agree that the recent results of Al Duhail were due to injuries. Why do you talk about injuries? The winners of this game may determine who will be the best.
“We are under more pressure than Al Duhail. They are the leaders and won the league title more than once. And regardless of injuries, they are in a better position.
“I wish our fans turn out in large numbers and we need their support,” said Ferreira.
Under Ferreira, Al Sadd have played five matches in the past months of the 2018-19 QNB Stars League’s season winning all of their Week 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 matches to collect the full quota of 15 points.
The Wolves’ victories have been against Umm Salal (5-1), Al Kharaitiyat (7-1), Al Arabi (3-0), Al Gharafa (8-1) and Al Shahania (4-1) in that order.
Ferreira’s men scored 27 goals while conceding just four, with 56 shots on target and 13 against it.
Bounedjah, meanwhile, scored 10 goals and made six assists in five matches (Weeks 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) during the term, playing crucial roles in the victories against Umm Salal (5-1), Al Kharaitiyat (7-1), Al Arabi (3-0), Al Gharafa (8-1) and Al Shahania (4-1)
in that order.
The two goals he scored against Al Shahania saw Bounedjah become the Qatar league’s all-time top scorer in a single-season as he took his personal tally to 28 goals.
The Algerian surpassed Brazilian striker Clemerson Soares’ record of 27 goals set in the 2007-08 season for
Al Gharafa.
