As part of coverage of the league championship that went by, the Qatar Stars League website analyses all 12 teams’ performance in the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League, which witnessed strong and exciting competition right till the final week.

AL GHARAFA

Al Gharafa, a club with rich history and huge fan base, missed out on a top-four finish and ended up in the fifth position in the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League with 30 points.

The Cheetahs registered nine victories, three draws and 10 defeats, and had a goal difference of -1 (39 goals for and 40 against).

Al Gharafa scored the most number of goals after champions Al Sadd (80) and runners-up Al Duhail (59).

Al Gharafa were in the fourth position at the end of first leg with 19 points (six victories, one draw and four defeats). They comparatively suffered more negative results in the second leg.

It may be noted that Al Gharafa had secured the fourth position in the 2020-2021 season QNB Stars League and thereby earned the right to play in the 2022 AFC Champions League.

Stramaccioni factor

Ahead of the season, Al Gharafa recruited Italian coach Andrea Stramaccioni, replacing Serb Slavisa Jokanovic who coached them for two seasons.

Stramaccioni, who took up coaching at the age of 25 following an early retirement due to an injury, has coached top Italian club Inter Milan as well as Iranian side Esteghlal.

Season’s deals

Al Gharafa started the season by retaining Algerian attacking midfielder Sofiane Hanni, and roped in Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Perez, Malian forward Cheick Diabate and Algerian defender Mehdi Tahrat.

They consolidated their ranks in the January transfer window by signing Iranian Saeid Ezatolahi.

Diabate, the top scorer

Diabate was Al Gharafa’s top scorer in the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League with 11 goals.

Al Gharafa were also well-served by Hanni, their next top scorer with six goals and who also excelled with crucial assists, Perez (five goals), and Qatari professional players such as Homam Al Ameen, Ahmed Alaaeldin, goalkeeper Yousef Hassan, Othman Al Yahri, Muyad Hassan and Saifeldeen Fadlallah.