Al Sadd ready to begin title defence against Al Markhiya

The prestigious QNB Stars League (QSL) is back and is set for a thrilling start as reigning champions Al Sadd take on promoted Al Markhiya in the opening match of the season at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium, today.

It will be a unique start to country’s top flight with five FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums hosting the games across the first five rounds throughout August.

These venues also include Al Janoub, Al Thumama, Education City and Ahmad Bin Ali stadiums.  

The 2022-23 season will also have more World Cup glimpse, with Al Rihla (The Journey) being the official ball for the QSL. Al Rihla, earlier this year was launched as official match ball for the World Cup and QSL will be one of the first leagues to use the ball. 

The 12 competing teams underwent extensive preparations at home and overseas training camps ahead of the new season, eyeing a strong show.

Al Sadd – the 16-time champions – will be the team to beat as they are on a 49-match unbeaten streak at the QSL on their way to back-to-back title wins.

The Wolves, however, are missing 15 Qatari players including Hassan Al Haydos, Akram Afif, Abdelkarim Al Hasan and goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, who are busy with the national team’s training camp for the November 21 to December 18 World Cup.  

With Santi Cazorla, Jung Woo-Young, Guilherme Torres, Andre Ayew and Baghdad Bounedjah available, Al Sadd will be hoping its foreign players to shine in absence of Qatar internationals.

“Absence of these players can be seen as an opportunity (for the other players to step up). We can look at it as a problem, but we can also consider it as an opportunity,” Al Sadd coach Juan Manuel Lillo told a pre-match press conference yesterday. 

Al Markhiya players in action during a training session.

“We do not have a lot of players but we have the opportunity to give time to compete to the players that are there. They are with us now and they have all done well in the training camp during the pre-season phase,” he added. 

Al Sadd travelled to Austria for a training camp which included practice games and Lillo was happy with the preseason preparations. 

“The camp gave us the opportunity to get to know the players. Now, we have our first official match against Al Markhiya and it will be useful for us to learn more about the league championship,” said the Spaniard. 

Replacing relegated Al Khor in the QSL after winning the Second Division, Al Markhiya trained in Turkiye besides holding a camp in Doha. 

“Al Markhiya, like other teams, had an overseas training camp and played six friendly matches both in Doha and during the camp. All players are now ready for the match,” Al Markhiya coach Abdullah Mubarak said yesterday. 

“We have a tough match against defending champions Al Sadd and a team which is not likely to be affected by the absence of their star players, who are with the national team for the World Cup,” said Abdullah. 

Umm Salal set for Al Ahli clash  

Meanwhile, Umm Salal and Al Ahli will meet in opening day’s second match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. 

Umm Salal, who finished sixth last season, trained in the Turkish city of Izmit for the new season and are aiming to make it to the top four this season, having chosen to continue with Qatari coach Wissam Rizk. 

Al Sadd coach Juan Manuel Lillo supervising training session.

“There is great discipline and high concentration in the team in order to achieve a positive result,” said coach Rizk. 

“In any tournament, our focus should be high and we also know that we face a respectable opponent. We have studied their strengths and weaknesses. Our players will be most ready to win,” he added.

Nebojsa Jovovic’s Al Ahli had a successful conditioning camp in Austria where they also played a friendly against Hungarian football club Gyirmot which ended 1-2.

“Al Ahli are ready for all the matches and our players have a measure of responsibility since this is a distinguished season of the QNB Stars League with the world focus on it because it is in the country which will be hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022. Al Ahli will therefore aim to deliver their best,” said Jovovic. 

“I have great confidence in the abilities of the players to give their best technical and physical effort for a distinguished start. The weather will not be an issue and there is no other pressure factor.” 

The first round of the QSL will continue till August 3.