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tribune news network
doha
Reigning champions Al Duhail open the seventh week's action against Al Ahli at the Al Ahli Stadium with only victory in mind if they are to keep pace with leaders Al Sadd who meet Qatar SC in Thursday's second match in the QNB Stars League.
Al Sadd top the table on better goal difference than Al Duhail as both have 13 points. The Wolves have a goal difference of +24 compared to the Red Knights' +12.
Al Sadd and Al Duhail have played one match less as their Week 5 matches were rescheduled due to their AFC Champions League quarter-final fixtures.
In Week 6, Al Sadd put it crushed Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico 5-0, whereas Al Duhail defeated Al Gharafa 4-2.
Going by form and strength, Al Sadd and Al Duhail should get the better of Qatar SC and Al Ahli respectively.
Qatar SC were held goalless by Al Khor and Al Ahli had lost to Al Sailiya 2-4 last week. Al Ahli are ninth with six points and Qatar SC 10th on four points.
Al Gharafa, who dropped from sixth to seventh after losing to Al Duhail, will eye nothing less than three points against Al Kharaitiyat who have yet to collect a point and are precariously placed at rock bottom.
Umm Salal, sixth with 10 points, target a hat-trick of victories when they host Al Khor.
Umm Salal are in good form having beaten Al Gharafa and Al Kharaitiyat in successive rounds even as Al Khor will look to stay clear of the danger zone as they have only two points and yet to record a victory.
Al Rayyan, who led the standings after Week 5 and then slipped to the fifth position with 11 points, host Al Shahania with an aim to bag three points, so they can stay on course for the title.
Al Shahania, who had lost to Al Arabi 0-3 in the last round, are eighth in league with seven points.
The contest between Al Arabi and Al Sailiya, the week's last fixture, will hog the limelight mainly because they both are on 12 points and coming off victories.
Al Sailiya is placed third as they have a goal difference of +5 as against Al Arabi's -1.
Meanwhile, Brazilian striker Lucca Borges passed his medical at Aspetar prior to his recruitment by Al Rayyan.
Lucca will complete the Lions' quota of professional players and is expected to take the field when they host Al Shahania in Week 7 on Saturday.
The 28-year-old last played for native side Internacional.
Al Rayyan's other professional players are Uruguayan defender Gonzalo Viera, Argentinian striker Jonathan Menendez and South Korean midfielder Koh Myong-Jin.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena and his assistants are striving hard to rectify the mistakes they committed in last week's Qatar Clasico against Al Sadd that resulted in their 0-5 loss and subsequent slip from first to fifth position in the standings.
