Umm Salal face Al Markhiya in Week 11 of the 2023-2024 Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Friday, December 8, 2023. The kick-off is at 7.30pm.

The meeting marks an important junction in the journey of the two teams in the league this season, especially for Al Markhiya who are still in search of a second win while Umm Salal are looking to move up to be in the top four.

The Orange Fortress enters the clash being in sixth place in the standings with 14 points. Al Markhiya are placed at the bottom with three points gained from a single win.

The match will be a fierce struggle, with both sides seeking the three points to improve their positions midway through the league.

Umm Salal aspire to be among the top four and based on what they have presented in the previous rounds including a victory over Al Duhail in Week 10, they will look to keep up the momentum. Umm Salal will also look to take advantage of Al Markhiya’s dipping morale.

Umm Salal coach Patrice Carteron will try to achieve a second successive victory and his team’s fifth in the tournament, relying on the services of Oussama Tannane, Kenji Gorre, Andy Delort, Adel Alawi and other prominent players of the team.

Al Markhiya, who suffered their ninth loss in the last round against Al Arabi, will strive to work hard to wriggle out of the bottom place. Their coach Madjid Bougherra will hope for a second win of the season for his team with some of the top players Joao Teixeira, Driss Fetouhi and Talal Ali among others forming the crux of the attack.

It is certain that both sides will strive to seize the three important points and not give away anything to continue their journey ahead in the league.