Doha: Al Arabi face Al Rayyan in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the new Lusail Stadium on Thursday.
The venue of this match itself speaks for its significance. It will also be the first match to be played at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final venue Lusail Stadium.
Fireworks can be expected not only for the new stadium, but also during the match as the importance of the occasion will bring out the best from the players.
A victory would be something to cherish and players of both Al Arabi and Al Rayyan would be looking to make this a memorable one in this exceptional season of QNB Stars League.
Al Arabi (The Dream Team), who finished fourth last season, have already made a winning start by prevailing over Qatar SC 2-0 in the first round. Al Rayyan (The Lions) were beaten 1-0 by Al Shamal in the opening round, but the eight-times league champions will be sure to roar back.
The Dream Team, under coach Younes Ali, has been further reinforced with the addition of foreign professionals.
The Lions have some worries with injury to their Qatari defender Ahmed Yasser Al Mohammedi. And while the coach would look for someone to step up for him, he has a formidable line-up in Yohan Boli, Steven Nzonzi and Tameem Al Abdullah among others.
Whatever the final combination of the line-ups, the match will see players being spurred on by the occasion and the presence of a strong crowd.
Certainly, the confrontation will be strong and very exciting both in the stands and inside the green rectangle, worthy of being top of this round.
This match is a rehearsal for the World Cup. The giant edifice, which is one of the most prominent stadiums in the world with great engineering, joins the other 2022 World Cup stadiums which are ready and fully equipped, namely: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium.
The exciting contest between Al Arabi and Al Rayyan will highlight the readiness and glorious magnificence of the Lusail Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the entity responsible for implementing infrastructure projects to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, had recently announced that Lusail Stadium (the largest of the eight tournament stadiums), will also host the Lusail Super Cup match between the Saudi League champions and Egyptian League champions, followed by a concert, on September 9.
Lusail Stadiums design has been inspired by the interplay of light and shadow that characterizes the traditional Arab lighthouse or lantern. Its shape and facade echo the intricate decorative motifs on bowls, vessels and other art pieces found across the Arab and Islamic world during the rise of civilization in the region.
Umm Salal face Al Sadd in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.
Defending champions Al Sadd enter the clash smarting from their opening-round 3-4 defeat to Al Markhiya, while Umm Salal are aiming to recover from their 0-1 loss against Al Ahli.
The loss to Al Markhiya also ended Al Sadds run of 47 consecutive wins in the league and as such they would be eager for a fightback. The former champions have been hampered by the absence of many of their star players (now training with the Qatar national team for the FIFA World Cup 2022).
Qatar SC face Al Markhiya in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Education City Stadium on Tuesday.
While both sides will go into the match aiming for a win, promoted side Al Markhiya, who beat defending champions Al Sadd in the opening round, will be motivated to continue with their good success.
Qatar SC lost to Al Arabi in the first round and would be eager to bounce back with a win. They also have Moroccan defender Badr Benoun having included him in the ranks to be an addition to the team this season.
With their top-notch 4-3 victory over Al Sadd, Al Markhiya gained three valuable points and are third in the points table and would be aspiring to continue their form while Qatar SC will look to get their first three points.
Moreover, Al Sailiya face Al Shamal in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Education City Stadium on Wednesday.
The match assumes importance for both teams, with one seeking their first three points and the other trying to consolidate their good start.
While Al Shamal will look to build on their good start they have had with an opening 1-0 win over Al Rayyan, Al Sailiya will aim to log their first three points, having lost 1-2 to Al Gharafa.
Furthermore, Al Gharafa face Al Wakrah in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday.
A strong and equal match, and certainly one of the top attractions of this round, in view of the capabilities of both teams, whether in terms of local players or foreign professionals on the one hand, and the desire of both on the other hand to win and reap the three points to continue the strong performances and good start that they had, both having won in the first round.
Al Gharafa, in the absence of their Algerian star Yacine Brahimi, who joined the team from Al Rayyan on a special deal, beat Al Sailiya 2-1, while Al Wakrah defeated strong title contenders Al Duhail 4-2 in Week 1.
Meanwhile, Al Ahli face Al Duhail in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Thursday.
Both teams will enter the match with the ambition of winning and collecting the three points, which paves the way for a strong encounter full of excitement and rivalry.
Al Ahli beat Umm Salal 1-0 in their first-round match in the final minutes with a goal from their Jordanian professional Yazan Al Naimat.
In contrast, last seasons runners-up Al Duhail suffered a 2-4 reversal against Al Wakrah. As such, The Red Knights have a task on hand.
The coaches of both teams, Argentinian Hernan Crespo of Al Duhail and Montenegrin Nebojsa Jovovic of Al Ahli, will seek their wards to rise up to the challenge and score a win.