The 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League is back with Week 10 action on Friday, 24th December, and Saturday, 25th December, with three games on each day.

The 50-day long break saw many rounds of the Ooredoo Cup, on the domestic front, and much more importantly FIFA Arab Cup, at the international level, being staged in Qatar.

The FIFA Arab Cup, whose organization was a remarkable success and witnessed a massive number of overseas fans, saw Qatar finish a creditable third, behind champions Algeria and runners-up Tunisia. Qatar beat Egypt in the pulsating third-place play-off on penalties after Al Annabi lost to eventual champions Algeria in the semifinal, which was also a thriller.

The tournament, played at six FIFA World Cup venues, acted as a dress rehearsal for next year’s showpiece event. It also saw a spate of QNB Stars League players make achievements.

Al Rayyan’s Yacine Brahimi of Algeria was adjudged the best player (adidas Golden Ball). His team-mate Youcef Belaili, whose contract with Qatar SC was recently ended by mutual consent, and Al Sadd’s Akram Afif of Qatar came second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, the semifinalists were decided in the 2021-2022 season Ooredoo Cup, with Al Wakrah (18 points) and Al Rayyan (12 points) from Group A and champions Al Sailiya (15 points) and Al Gharafa (11 points) from Group B making it to the knockout last-four stage.

Coming to the QNB Stars League, reigning champions Al Sadd are leading the table with 25 points. Al Duhail are in second place with 22 points. Al Arabi (19 points) and Al Gharafa (15 points) complete the top-four bracket.

Al Wakrah (15 points), Umm Salal, Qatar SC, Al Rayyan (all nine points), Al Shamal (eight points), Al Ahli (six points), Al Sailiya (five points) and Al Khor (four points) occupy the fifth to 12th positions in that order.

Al Ahli and Al Khor remain as the only teams yet to register a victory.

The Week 10 fixtures are Al Ahli vs Al Sailiya (Al Ahli Stadium, 16:05), Al Wakrah vs Al Shamal (Qatar SC Stadium, 16:05), Qatar SC vs Al Rayyan (Qatar SC Stadium, 18:15) on Friday, Al Sadd vs Al Khor (Qatar SC Stadium, 16:05), Umm Salal vs Al Duhail (Al Gharafa Stadium, 16:05) and Al Gharafa vs Al Arabi (Al Gharafa Stadium, 18:15) on Saturday.

The remaining part of the competition will see many changes, especially in the winter transfer window.

Spaniard Javi Gracia was named as Al Sadd coach in December, 2021, after his compatriot Xavi Hernandez took over the reins at Barcelona, having achieved remarkable success with The Wolves, both as a player and coach.

Al Sadd are counting a lot on Gracia as they seek to keep making achievements.

Al Khor parted ways with German coach Winfried Schafer, while Al Shamal will miss the services of Jordanian player Bahaa Faisal, who suffered a ligament injured during the Arab Cup. The club announced that his compatriot Ali Alwan has replaced Bahaa in the squad.

Many players, who did duties for their countries at the Arab Cup, are expected to join their club ranks in time for the resumption of QNB Stars League.

Week 9 results

Al Ahli drew Al Shamal  0-0

Al Rayyan lost to Al Gharafa    0-2

Al Duhail drew Al Sadd  3-3

Qatar SC bt Al Sailiya     2-1

Al Khor lost to Al Arabi  0-2

Al Wakrah lost to Umm Salal    1-4