+ A
A -
Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
Al Khor face reigning champions Al Sadd in a rescheduled QNB Stars League match at the Al Khor Stadium on Tuesday.
The game was postponed due to Al Sadd’s 2019 AFC Champions League commitment.
Al Sadd, a few days shy of winning the Qatar Cup after a convincing display against league leaders Al Duhail, will hope to ride the recent resurgence after an inconsistent start to the season.
The Wolves are currently third in the standings with 21 points, nine less than leaders Al Duhail and seven less than Al Rayyan.
The defending champions have lost four matches already this season – three more than they did last season whey they claimed the title, seven points clear of second-placed Al Duhail.
“It will be a very difficult match, especially after the big win in the Qatar Cup. We must now focus on the league and the Al Khor match. We have lost four games in the league championship, and from tomorrow’s match onward we must win all the matches,” Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
The Wolves seem to have turned the chapter however, with three wins from their last three matches – scoring 14 goals in those games.
Xavi added that the momentum will be key for his team.
“We must play with the same pressure that we played against Al Duhail and Al Rayyan especially as Al Khor is a strong team with high capabilities. We must play the game with all our strength. We lost to Qatar SC and Al Wakrah, so if we do not focus in front of Al Khor, we can lose again.”
Midfielder Salem al Hajri also added that the players have put behind the Qatar Cup victory and are now concentrating on the league challenge.
“We have turned the Qatar Cup page and our focus is entirely on the league, and all its matches are difficult. The league still has a long way to go, and we should not lose any points in all the upcoming rounds,” Al Hajri said.
Al Sadd will be without Gabi, Tarek Salman and Hamed Ismail due to injury.
For Al Khor, a shock 2-1 win over Al Sailiya in their last league game may provide the spark the Omar Naji-led side needs.
The club recently signed former Al Rayyan striker Lucca Borges to add more fire-power to a side that have managed just 13 goals, the third lowest in the division.
With just two wins so far, the Knights face a tough challenge against an Al Sadd side that last lost to Al Khor in 2018.
“Everyone knows the strength Al Sadd but we always focus on the players and strive to perform the way we are used to. We consider this match a good opportunity for us to snatch valuable points, especially as teams behind us are chasing.
“Al Khor is a team and does not deal with names, we do not worry about the stature of the opponent. The squad is complete and we have finished our preparations for the match. Lucca’s participation will be decided on match day,” Naji said.
Doha
Al Khor face reigning champions Al Sadd in a rescheduled QNB Stars League match at the Al Khor Stadium on Tuesday.
The game was postponed due to Al Sadd’s 2019 AFC Champions League commitment.
Al Sadd, a few days shy of winning the Qatar Cup after a convincing display against league leaders Al Duhail, will hope to ride the recent resurgence after an inconsistent start to the season.
The Wolves are currently third in the standings with 21 points, nine less than leaders Al Duhail and seven less than Al Rayyan.
The defending champions have lost four matches already this season – three more than they did last season whey they claimed the title, seven points clear of second-placed Al Duhail.
“It will be a very difficult match, especially after the big win in the Qatar Cup. We must now focus on the league and the Al Khor match. We have lost four games in the league championship, and from tomorrow’s match onward we must win all the matches,” Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
The Wolves seem to have turned the chapter however, with three wins from their last three matches – scoring 14 goals in those games.
Xavi added that the momentum will be key for his team.
“We must play with the same pressure that we played against Al Duhail and Al Rayyan especially as Al Khor is a strong team with high capabilities. We must play the game with all our strength. We lost to Qatar SC and Al Wakrah, so if we do not focus in front of Al Khor, we can lose again.”
Midfielder Salem al Hajri also added that the players have put behind the Qatar Cup victory and are now concentrating on the league challenge.
“We have turned the Qatar Cup page and our focus is entirely on the league, and all its matches are difficult. The league still has a long way to go, and we should not lose any points in all the upcoming rounds,” Al Hajri said.
Al Sadd will be without Gabi, Tarek Salman and Hamed Ismail due to injury.
For Al Khor, a shock 2-1 win over Al Sailiya in their last league game may provide the spark the Omar Naji-led side needs.
The club recently signed former Al Rayyan striker Lucca Borges to add more fire-power to a side that have managed just 13 goals, the third lowest in the division.
With just two wins so far, the Knights face a tough challenge against an Al Sadd side that last lost to Al Khor in 2018.
“Everyone knows the strength Al Sadd but we always focus on the players and strive to perform the way we are used to. We consider this match a good opportunity for us to snatch valuable points, especially as teams behind us are chasing.
“Al Khor is a team and does not deal with names, we do not worry about the stature of the opponent. The squad is complete and we have finished our preparations for the match. Lucca’s participation will be decided on match day,” Naji said.
