Al Rayyan will take on the UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli in a strong contest for the Challenge Shield of Qatar-UAE Super Cup at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium of Al Rayyan club on Thursday, January 16, 2025. The kick-off is at 6pm.

Al Rayyan would be keen to score a win and lay their hands on the shield while their rivals Shabab Al Ahli would also aim for the same providing for an exciting clash. It would be interesting to see which team clinches the shield in the second edition of Qatar-UAE Super Cup.

The Lions enter the match following on the heels of their recent morale-boosting 6-2 win over Umm Salal in Week 12 of the Ooredoo Stars League, and will strive to keep up the momentum despite the difference in competition between the two tournaments – the league and Challenge Shield.

Al Rayyan are currently ranked fifth in the league table with 16 points and have been among the most prominent beneficiaries during the 12th round, moving up from eighth to fifth place.

The match against Umm Salal was the first for Al Rayyan under the guidance of their Portuguese coach Artur Jorge, who took over the task from Younes Ali.

It may be noted that the second edition of Qatar-UAE Super Cup has the participation of eight clubs – four Qatari teams and as many UAE teams, competing among themselves for the four titles.

The first – the Challenge Shield brings together Al Rayyan, runners-up of 2023-2024 season league championship, and Shabab Al Ahli, runners-up of last season’s UAE League.

Al Nasr, runners-up of the UAE President’s Cup, will meet Qatar SC, runners-up of Amir Cup, for the Super Cup on January 17, 2025, at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

The clash for the Super Shield will see Al Sadd, the Qatar league title holders, meet Al Wasl, the UAE League champions, on January 18, 2025 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.

Al Wakrah, the 2024 Qatar Cup champions, will play Al Wahda of the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup champions, for the Challenge Cup on January 19, 2025, at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.