In Doha, Qatar, Al Rayyan football club is gearing up to face Al Shahania in the Ooredoo Stars League (OSL) after a three-week international break. The Lions will be looking to secure a win against Al Shahania at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium before hosting Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League Elite four days later. With recent defeats to Al Duhail and Al Gharafa, Al Rayyan is eager to bounce back in the Qatari top flight.
During the break, Al Rayyan strengthened their squad by signing Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki and Palestinian international Mohamed Saleh. Currently sitting in eighth place with three points in the OSL standings, a win against Al Shahania would not only improve their position but also instill confidence in the team as they prepare to face Al Hilal. Promoted team Al Shahania, looking for a turnaround in the league with just two points, will aim to make the match difficult for the Lions.
Despite Al Rayyan claiming a victory in their recent meeting with Al Shahania in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) Cup, Al Shahania coach Alvaro Mejia is confident in his team’s ability to put on a strong performance. Pelle van Amersfoort, a player for Al Shahania, expressed confidence in their abilities saying, “We know that Al Rayyan are a very big team, but we are not afraid of them. We are moving step by step in the league championship.”
In addition to the Al Rayyan vs Al Shahania match, Al Sadd and Al Gharafa will also be aiming for victories in the OSL before their Champions League Elite fixtures next week. Al Sadd will face Umm Salal at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium before taking on Al Ain FC in the AFC Champions League. Meanwhile, Al Gharafa will play against Al Shamal at Al Bayt Stadium before their match against Esteghlal FC in Tehran.
Furthermore, the OSL leaders Al Duhail will be up against Al Wakrah while Al Arabi and Al Ahli will face Al Khor and Qatar SC respectively. The OSL Round 4 fixtures include these matches along with Al Shahania vs Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa vs Al Shamal, Al Sadd vs Umm Salal, Qatar SC vs Al Ahli, Al Arabi vs Al Khor, and Al Wakrah vs Al Duhail. These fixtures are set to take place on September 13 and 14, 2024, with the matches being held at various stadiums in Qatar.
