Al Gharafa and Al Markhiya are scheduled to compete in a highly-anticipated match on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at the Al Bayt Stadium in the second round of 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League. The kick-off is at 6.30pm.

The match is of great importance to both teams.

Al Gharafa secured one point from their Week 1 tie (4-4) against Qatar SC, while Al Markhiya have yet to earn any points after losing to Al Rayyan in the first week.

Both teams are eager to secure a win in this match and will approach the game with caution. Despite the differing results of their first-round matches, both teams displayed impressive performances.

Al Gharafa are determined to continue their strong performance and secure their first win in the tournament. Their Portuguese coach Pedro Martins is relying on the morale and desire of his players to win. He may field the same team that played against Qatar SC, with the likes of Yacine Brahimi, Yohan Boli, Ferjani Sassi, Farid Boulaya and Othman Al Yahri.

However, Mostafa Essam will be absent from the team due to a cut in the cruciate ligament sustained during the Qatar SC match.

Al Markhiya, despite their loss to Al Rayyan, displayed a strong performance and are determined to make up for their defeat in this match. Their line-up for the first-round match included Joao Teixeira, Driss Fettouhi, Talal Ali, Moayad Hassan and others.