Al Rayyan will take on Al Sadd in the first Qatari Classico of the 2015/16 QSL campaign on Thursday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (kick-off 18:30).

The Lions have stormed the QSL this season and sit proudly at the top after winning their opening 11 matches. The Wolves, meanwhile, lie third on 21 points after two defeats in a row.
Al Rayyan
In Round 11 Al Rayyan became the first side in QSL history to win their opening 11 games to break the previous record held by Al Sadd and Umm Salal.
So far this season the Lions have scored 38 goals and conceded just nine times. Rodrigo Tabata is Al Rayyan’s top scorer – and the QSL’s leading marksman – with 12 goals.
On the disciplinary front, Al Rayyan have received 16 yellow cards and suffered one sending off. Victor Caceres was the man to receive the red card during the Round 11 victory over Al Gharafa.
Another interesting statistic concerns Al Rayyan’s substitutions. Coach Jorge Fossati has made the maximum 33 changes during the 11 games so far.
Strong goal difference
Al Rayyan have scored more goals than any other QSL side. Their biggest win of the season came in Round 9 when they thrashed Qatar Sports Club 9-0. Out of 38 goals in total, 17 have been scored during the first half, with 21 coming after the break. Defensively, Al Rayyan have conceded only three goals before half-time in their matches, with six coming after the break.
Al Sadd
Al Sadd have won six, drawn three and lost two of their opening 11 games. They drew a blank against Al Khor in a match which ended 0-0, and that’s one of only three clean sheets the Wolves have kept all season.
Al Sadd have scored 24 goals so far this campaign, with ten coming in the first half and 14 in the second. Brazilian striker Muriqui is the top scorer, with eight goals. Disappointingly for the Wolves, they have conceded 15 times, with seven coming in the first half and eight in the second.
Unlike Al Rayyan, Al Sadd haven’t utilised their substitutes as often, with only 23 used during their season so far. Al Sadd’s discipline is pretty good however. They have received 13 yellow cards so far and no reds.
Al Rayyan & Al Sadd
Both teams have been awarded – and scored – two penalties this season. Al Sadd have conceded two spot kicks, while Al Rayyan have conceded only one.
Al Rayyan’s squad contains 26 players, with 23 seeing action this campaign. Al Sadd have fielded 19 players from a squad of 24. The youngest player to represent Al Rayyan is Abdelhameed Enad, while the youngest Al Sadd star is Nasser Al Nasr. Both were born in 1995.
Al Sadd have youth on their side in this fixture. Their average age is 25 years, two months and one day, while Al Rayyan’s average age is 26 years, eight months and three days. Al Sadd have the second youngest squad after Lekhwiya, while Al Rayyan’s squad is the Sixth
oldest.
Tabata’s the star man
Fans should expect goals in the first Qatari Classico of the season. Rodrigo Tabata has been in incredible form for Al Rayyan, and will be aiming to increase his goals tally on Thursday. As well as being the QSL’s leading scorer, Tabata is also the top assist maker in the league, with ten. For Al Sadd, meanwhile, Spanish superstar Xavi Hernandez has made the most assists, with nine so far this campaign.

* Statistics and information provided by Superkoora.com