Al Duhail players posing for a photograph during a training session at the club's training pitch yesterday.
QNB Stars League (QSL) table toppers Al Duhail return to competitive action on Saturday when they take on Umm Salal as the 2019-20 season resumes after a long delay which was caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The match will kick-off at 4:45pm at the Al Janoub Stadium. For Al Duhail, who have shown tremendous courage and strength this season, the returning fixture against Umm Salal - who are struggling to stay out of relegation zone - should not be a difficult task.
They are currently occupying the top spot in the points tally with 42 points. Al Duhail, under their Moroccan coach Walid Regragui, have recorded 13 wins and three draws. They have suffered only one defeat this season.
Their goal difference is +19 (33 goals for and 14 against). Umm Salal, under Moroccan Aziz Ben Askar, are 11th in the standings with 14 points, the same as Al Khor but behind on goal difference.
The Orange Fortress have a goal difference of -18, as against Al Khor’s -8. Both Umm Salal and Al Khor have three victories, five draws and nine defeats against their name, with the former scoring 15 goals and conceding 33. The number of goals scored by Umm Salal is the least by any team and that is a cause for concern.
Al Duhail received a massive boost earlier this week when they signed Eduardo Pereira Rodrigues, also known as Dudu, the 28-year-old Brazillian forward on loan from Palmeiras. Dudu will stay with the QSL giants for at least one year.
Dudu’s recruitment comes days after Al Duhail announced the departure of Croatian Mario Mandzukic. Al Duhail also boast of Almoez Ali, Yousef Msakni, Asim Madibo, Luis Martin, Ismail Mohammed, Mehdi Benatia and Ahmed Yasser, in addition to the possibility of the return of Bassam Al Rawi and Sultan Al Breik. Umm Salal have in their ranks Mahmoud Al Mawas, Ayoub Azzi, Walid Mesloub, Raul Becerra, Enes Sipovic, Rami Fayez, Omar Yahya and Ismail Mahmoud, who is back from his loan spell with Al Wakrah. Al Duhail had beaten Umm Salal 1-0 in the first leg.
Both teams have undergone intense training ahead of the season's resumption. Al Duhail team manager Ismael Ahmed had praised the preparations of the players.
"The preparation period went perfectly and the harmony was evident between the technical staff and the players who worked hard to perform their training as required in order to gain physical fitness after the long stop period," Ismael told the club's website. "After our international players rejoined us, we played a number of friendly matches in which the coaching staff gave the opportunity to all the players to test their physical fitness and technical level , and the players still have a number of trainings before their match against Umm Salal," Ismael said.
Saturday's next match will be played between the defending champions Al Sadd and Al Khor at the Al Sadd Stadium with the kick off set for 7.00pm. Holders Al Sadd, coached by Spaniard Xavi Hernandez whose contract with the club was recently extended for one more season, are third in the QNB Stars League standings with 32 points. The Wolves have 10 wins, two draws and five defeats against their name.
Their goal difference is +18 (45 goals for and 27 against). Al Sadd have scored the most number of goals than any other team. Al Rayyan are second (34) and Al Duhail third (33). Al Khor, under Omar Najhi, are 10th in the table with 14 points.
The Knights have three victories, five draws and nine defeats against their name with a goal difference of -8, having scored 19 goals and conceded 27.
Al Khor will look to avenge the 1-2 loss they suffered at the hands of Al Sadd in the first leg of 2019-20 QNB Stars League, in a deferred match that was played on 21st January this year due to the latter’s AFC Champions League commitment.
Omar’s wards will be eyeing maximum number of points, so they can stay away from the relegation zone.
