This week sees 5^th placed Al Ahli take on Al Kharaitiyat who currently languish in 11^th spot in the Qatar Stars League. The clash is set to take place this Wednesday at the Al Khor stadium as the Brigadiers stake their claim for the coveted 4^th spot.

With just six games left to go and only the top four clubs in the league eligible to qualify for the prestigious Qatar Cup, the race is certainly heating up. Lekhwiya and Sadd have built up a healthy gap of points from the chasing pack and are most likely to qualify but third and fourth, it seems are still up for grabs.

Jaish are on 34 points as are Qatar SC but just below lurks Al Ahli and Gharafa on 30 points so there is still plenty of motivation for the top six teams as they go into the business end of the competition.

Al Kharaitiyat on the other hand, have a different reality confronting them as they look for QSL survival, the boys in blue have changed coaches and improved as a result with 3 wins, a draw and only two loses in their last six games.

In the first half of the season Al Ahli put four past Al Kharaitiyat in a dominant display which dealt a psychological blow to the visitors and their fans on the day.

Yet things won’t be any easier for Kharaitiyat in round 21 as Alain Dioko, the Brigadiers front man is currently on track to break his personal best goal tally.  To date the Congolese striker is already on 20 goals and just 3 more would see him beat his all-time record of 22 goals in a single season. 

Overlooked last year for the player of the season award, Dioko has the will and talent to show once again that he is not a force to be reckoned with.

Kharaitiyat also have a front man who has come into a spot of form, Hassan Abdul Fattah was voted the QSL February player of the month after scoring some important goals to help his side win some tough clashes.

In the last 4 encounters Al Ahli has got the upper hand with 3 wins, whilst Al Kharaitiyat only has one win. Recent history has been unkind to Kharaitiyat but with a new head coach Amar Osim at the helm one thing is certain; the boys in blue have become a lot more difficult to beat. The 4-0 defeat back in October is not likely to be repeated as Kharaitiyat now have the confidence to win games.

Teetering on the precipice of relegation, Kharaitiyat must make their home advantage count in a key clash for them this Wednesday in the late kick off.