Al Duhail face Markhiya in Week 14 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Duhail Stadium on Monday. The kick-off is at 16:45.

The Red Knights are in hot form and also leading the QNB Stars League standings with 29 points. They would look to consolidate their position all the more adding to the difficulty of the task for Al Markhiya, who are also keen to get more wins.

Al Markhiya, who are currently placed eighth in rankings with 12 points, scored a thumping 4-0 win over Qatar SC in the last round and would aim to challenge Al Duhail.

Interestingly, in the first leg meeting between the two teams, Al Duhail had won by a solitary goal. But now The Red Knights are on a roll having won five consecutive league matches besides their Qatar Cup semifinal win over Al Wakrah.

Al Duhail’s Argentinian coach Hernan Crespo, who is with the team in his first season, will want his players to keep up the charge while Al Markhiya’s Qatari coach Abdullah Mubarak, who is vastly experienced, will strategize for his team to stop the rivals’ juggernaut.

Al Duhail may miss the services of Assim Madibo and Karim Boudiaf.

Al Markhiya too will have to deal with the absence of their Iraqi professional Aymen Hussein, the team's top scorer, who has moved to Al Jazira club of the UAE.

But both Al Duhail and Al Markhiya having many options in attack and defence. Al Duhail are steered by Kenyan striker Michael Olunga, the top goal getter of the competition (9 goals so far) along with Al Wakrah forward Jacinto Dala. 

The other Al Duhail stars include Almoez Ali, Sultan Al Breik, Baghdad Bounedjah and Nam Tae-Hee.

Al Markhiya rely on Driss Fettouhi, Ayoub Azzi, Ali Al Mohannadi, Jameel Al Yahmadi and Yousef Hani Ballan among others.

In their previous QNB Stars League match, Al Duhail beat Al Ahli 2-1 and have also set up a Qatar Cup final clash with Al Sadd. The team will look to keep up the winning streak, but Al Markhiya surely would put up a strong challenge.