Al Wakrah players during a training session in this file photo.
Al Wakrah coach Marquez Lopez is expecting a strong challenge from relegation-threatened Al Rayyan in their penultimate QNB Stars League (QSL) clash, saying his team will have to give a good show to stay in the top four at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, today.
Al Wakrah stunned title contenders Al Arabi in their previous game to jump to fourth spot with 33 points but they are facing stiff competition to retain their position from Al Gharafa and Qatar SC, who are both on 32 points.
Al Rayyan, on the other hand are in must-win situation as they are battling to avoid relegation from Qatar’s top flight. The Lions are ninth with 17 points, leading Al Shamal only on goal difference with Umm Salal (16 points) and bottom side Al Sailiyia (13 points) also fighting to stay in the league.
“The match is very important for both sides, as we want to stick to the top four and Al Rayyan are looking to escape relegation. Both teams need points and of course it would be a tough game,” Lopez told reporters at a press conference.
“Focus will help us a lot in overcoming the difficult Al Rayyan obstacle, especially since there was not enough time to prepare for this confrontation, unlike what happened to us before the last Al Arabi match,” he added.
Al Rayyan players attend a training session prior to the match.
Lopez said back-to-back wins including a 5-1 thrashing of Al Shamal in Week 19 helped the side regained confidence.
“The situation in my team is very good because the victories helped improve the atmosphere within the team, therefore the preparation for the upcoming matches is much better but we need to stay focused throughout the match,” said the Al Wakrah coach.
Al Rayyan are coming back after a 2-0 defeat to Al Sadd with coach Nicholas Cordova saying his team must avail opportunities.
“In the last match against Al Sadd, we performed well, and we were not lucky enough to take advantage of the chances. Had we scored, we would have got the points the team deserved,” said Cordova.
Al Rayyan’s Abdulrahman Al Karbi said the team will give its best effort against Al Wakrah.
“We are very far from what we aspired to this season, but the reality is that we are down in the standing. We will try our best in the last two matches to make amend,” he said.
Later today, the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium will host the match between Umm Salal and Al Shamal with both teams eyeing full points in their bid to avoid relegation.
The other match today will see Al Markhiya taking on Al Sailiya at Grand Hamad Stadium.
