Strong battles are on cards in Week 13 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League as well. Matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday, February 4 and 5, 2023, with four games on the first day and two on the second day.

Questions are doing rounds whether Al Duhail will consolidate their lead on the top, Al Arabi will make up for missing points and Qatar SC will climb the ladder further…

Al Sadd, placed sixth with 16 points, face Umm Salal, 11th with seven points, and Al Wakrah, fourth with 18 points, face Al Gharafa, seventh with 16 points, in simultaneous kick-off on Saturday.

Al Sadd aspire to continue their winning run, which started after the break that saw them win three matches in a row.

On the other hand, Umm Salal suffered three consecutive defeats that saw them slip to the penultimate place and they badly need some positive results sooner.

Umm Salal have announced that they parted ways with coach Wesam Rizik by mutual consent and they will take the field under his replacement.

Al Wakrah and Al Gharafa will take field the great ambitions. Al Wakrah are coming from a 0-1 loss at home against Al Duhail, which made them drop to fourth place, while Al Gharafa beat Al Sailiya 2-1 to revive their hopes of making it to the top four.

In Saturday, other two matches, leaders Al Duhail (26 points) face Al Ahli, placed fifth with 17 points.

Al Duhail are having good form and will be looking to sustain the momentum, whereas Al Ahli, who have achieved two wins and a draw in the last three matches (they beat Umm Salal 3-1 in Week 12), will also be eager to be on the path of winning.

In another simultaneous kick-off on Saturday, Al Rayyan, placed 10th with eight points, face Al Arabi, second with 22 points, in a thriller, which will be noted more for the fan factor. These two clubs have a loyal base of supporters.

Al Arabi, who were in the lead position for long, are having a lean patch of late as they lost to reigning champions Al Sadd and Qatar SC, and will look to be back on the winning path.

Al Rayyan, who beat Al Shamal 2-1 in Week 12, will be keen to extend their winning streak and thus move away from the danger zone.

Al Rayyan are strengthened by their new recruits – Moroccan star Sofiane Boufal and Chilean Jason Vargas.

On Sunday, Al Markhiya, placed ninth with nine points, face Qatar SC, third with 19 points.

Qatar SC are coming off four consecutive victories and question remains whether Al Markhiya, who did not taste victory in their last three matches, can stop The Kings’ juggernaut.

In Sunday’s second and the round’s last match, Al Shamal, eighth with 10 points, face Al Sailiya, last with four points.

Both teams are sure to fight it out to improve their positions. The onus is more on Al Sailiya to pull up their socks if they are to avoid relegation.