Al Rayyan and Al Sadd will face off in the Qatar Clasico, one of the country’s biggest footballing rivalries, in Week 9 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at Al Gharafa Stadium at 18:30 on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

Fans always await this contest, the teams’ standing in the league notwithstanding. The clash generates great interest in view of the history of confrontations between these two teams.

While Al Sadd are the defending champions and also the club which has won the most number of league titles, Al Rayyan remain a formidable side though they have been going through some difficulties and have dropped down the points table so far, but have scored a win over Al Sailiya in the last round.

Al Sadd too have not been as dominating and are currently in seventh place in the standings with seven points from two wins, a draw and four defeats. The Wolves, however, have a postponed match against Qatar SC from Week 8.

Al Rayyan are 11th in the table with four points gained from the victory over Al Sailiya and a draw. They have suffered six defeats.

The two teams have been preparing well for this match through daily training.

Al Sadd’s Spanish coach Juan Manuel Lillo ‘Juanma’ is well aware of the importance of the match and the valuable three points for his team. He is therefore expected to push his players in order to collect points despite the absence of some stars who are representing the national team at the ongoing Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra, Iraq.

On the other hand, Al Rayyan’s Chilean coach Nicolas Cordova knows very well that Al Sadd are a different side compared to others. He would therefore take into account the importance of making a strong show and entering the match with the best available squad in order to reap a second victory of the season which, if achieved, will give a strong impetus to the team for the rest of the campaign.