Table toppers Al Sadd will take on reigning champions Al Duhail in a much-awaited thriller and postponed match from Week 9 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium of Al Sadd club on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. The kick-off is at 7.30pm.

That the game will be full of excitement is a foregone conclusion, given the teams’ stature, abilities and positions, as Al Sadd are in the lead with 25 points and Al Duhail in fifth place with 17 points.

Both Al Sadd and Al Duhail are known for their on-field rivalry over the past many seasons. Al Sadd are keen to regain the title, while Al Duhail are eager to retain the title. No doubt, the outcome of the match will have a bearing on their positions.

Off the field, the encounters between Al Sadd and Al Duhail are of special importance to fans of both sides in particular and Qatar football in general.

They both have the necessary resources and the best players in the league, be they Qatari or overseas professionals.

Al Sadd were back on top of the standings following their 4-0 victory over Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico in Week 11. On the other hand, Al Duhail were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar SC.

Al Sadd are the second-best team offensively with 29 goals, behind Al Gharafa (31 goals). The Wolves are also the best defensively conceding only four goals, whereas Al Duhail scored 19 goals and conceded 14.

Al Sadd’s national coach Wesam Rizik will mainly count on star forward Akram Afif, who is competing for the top scorer’s title with 10 goals and is in second place behind Al Gharafa’s Yacine Brahimi (13 goals), ace Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who scored a hat-trick against Al Rayyan, Colombian Mateus Uribe and captain Hassan Al Haydous among other players.

Al Duhail, coached by Frenchman Christopher Galtier, also have prominent players, such as captain Almoez Ali, Ismail Mohammed, Karim Boudiaf and Ruben Semedo. The Red Knights will miss the services of their spearhead Michael Olunga due to injury and South Korean Kim Moon-Hwan, who was sent off during the match against Qatar SC.